What should you know about crusty melanoma?

Melanoma is a skin cancer that can arise in an existing mole or on previously clear skin. A lesion may become uneven in colour or shape, grow, itch, bleed, ooze, or develop a crust. These features do not prove melanoma, but they warrant examination; a crust can also follow injury, inflammation, or another skin cancer. The key concern is a lesion that changes or fails to heal.

A clinician examines the lesion with magnification and may recommend a biopsy. [Melanoma](/conditions/melanoma/) provides background on the condition. Do not scrape, freeze, or apply home remedies to a suspicious spot, because this can injure it and delay diagnosis.

Arrange a prompt dermatology appointment and describe when the crust began, what changed first, and whether it has bled or been painful. Photographing the area for your own comparison can help you describe change, but it cannot replace examination. If melanoma is confirmed, [Surgical Excision](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/excisional-surgery/) is commonly discussed; further care depends on examination and staging. Options may include [Skin Cancer Surgery](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/skin-cancer-surgery/) or [Immunotherapy](/treatments/systemic-therapy/immunotherapy/).

Seek prompt review for a new or changing pigmented spot, repeated bleeding, ulceration, rapid growth, marked colour variation, or a sore that does not heal. Seek urgent care for uncontrolled bleeding, severe swelling, or sudden neurological symptoms such as weakness, confusion, or a seizure. A confirmed diagnosis may lead to staging tests such as [Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy](/treatments/diagnostics-and-staging/sentinel-lymph-node-biopsy/); it does not mean every patient needs the same treatment.

Ask whether the lesion needs a biopsy, how quickly it should be assessed, and what the procedure involves. If melanoma is diagnosed, ask about its depth, whether staging is needed, treatment choices, wound care, and the schedule for [Follow-Up After Cancer Treatment](/treatments/survivorship-and-rehabilitation/post-treatment-surveillance/).