How common is changing mole in melanoma?

Melanoma may develop in an existing mole or appear as a new pigmented spot. Change can involve growth, an uneven outline, several shades of brown, black, red, blue, or white, or a difference from the other moles on your skin. A mole may also become itchy, tender, crusted, or bleed.

These signs are reasons for assessment, not a diagnosis. Ordinary moles and other skin conditions can look different from one another or change after irritation. A clinician uses the history and a close examination to decide what happens next.

Make a prompt appointment with a doctor or dermatologist. Before the visit, take a dated, well-focused photograph in consistent light and note when you first noticed the change. Include a ruler or another size reference without covering the lesion.

Do not shave, burn, pick, or apply home removal products to the mole. Tell the clinician about previous skin cancers, intense sun exposure, tanning device use, immune conditions, and relatives with melanoma, as these details can shape the examination plan.

Seek prompt skin assessment when a mole changes noticeably, develops an irregular border or mixed colour, or repeatedly bleeds or crusts. Arrange earlier review for a lesion that is rapidly evolving or looks unlike your other moles.

Get urgent medical help for uncontrolled bleeding, spreading redness with fever, severe pain, or a rapidly worsening wound. Those symptoms may point to a problem requiring immediate care and are not a reason to wait for routine monitoring.

Could this lesion be checked with dermoscopy? Does it need a biopsy or a planned follow-up photograph? Which changes should make me contact you sooner, and how should I check the rest of my skin?