Melanoma and pregnancy: what to know

Pregnancy can change pigmentation and stretch the skin, but a new or changing mole still deserves a professional examination. Melanoma is assessed by its skin features and pathology, not by pregnancy alone. If melanoma is diagnosed, the team considers the tumour’s depth and spread, your stage of pregnancy, your health, and the expected benefits and risks of each option. A dermatologist, oncologist, surgeon, and maternity specialist may need to coordinate decisions.

Report a changing, bleeding, crusted, or enlarging lesion without waiting until after delivery. A clinician can decide whether a biopsy or Surgical Excision should be done during pregnancy and how to manage local anaesthetic and wound care. Do not start or stop cancer medicines, supplements, or skin products without discussing them with your care team. If treatment beyond surgery is needed, ask how timing affects pregnancy and whether Immunotherapy is suitable now or later. Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy may also require an individual discussion.

Contact your dermatologist promptly for a lesion that changes quickly, bleeds without a clear injury, develops an irregular border, or does not heal. Seek urgent care for heavy bleeding, signs of wound infection, severe pain, fainting, or new neurological symptoms. Pregnancy-related skin changes can be harmless, but they should not be used to explain away a concerning lesion without an examination.

Ask whether the lesion should be biopsied now, which anaesthetic and imaging options are appropriate, and how the result would affect timing. Discuss the melanoma stage, the pregnancy stage, medicines that should be avoided, breastfeeding plans, and how your maternity team will be involved. Ask who to call if the wound changes or a new symptom appears.