Eyelid melanoma pictures: what they can and cannot show

Images of eyelid melanoma may show an asymmetrical mark, irregular edges, several shades of pigment, or a lesion that changes over time. Some melanomas are not very dark, and harmless eyelid marks can also look uneven. Lighting, camera focus, makeup and skin tone alter what a picture shows. Compare dated, makeup-free images taken from a comfortable distance, and do not use an online image to label your own lesion.

If an eyelid spot is changing, photograph it for your clinician and arrange an assessment with a dermatologist or eye specialist. Record when you first noticed it, whether it has bled or crusted, and whether lashes are missing nearby. The clinician may recommend biopsy followed by Surgical Excision or Skin Cancer Surgery if melanoma is confirmed. Staging may include a Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy, depending on the pathology.

Book prompt medical review for a new mark, visible growth, changing colour or border, recurrent bleeding, ulceration, or a sore that does not heal. Seek urgent eye care for sudden vision change, severe pain, marked swelling, or inability to close the eye. Emergency symptoms such as new weakness, confusion or seizure need immediate assessment and should not be judged from a photograph.

Ask what features concern the clinician, whether dermoscopy or biopsy is appropriate, and how much tissue may need removal. Ask how the result will be explained, whether the eye surface is involved, and what follow-up is recommended after treatment.