What should you know about melanoma in teens?

Melanoma is a cancer of pigment-producing cells. A changing mole, a new unusual mark, bleeding, crusting, itching, or a spot that looks different from the others deserves a clinician’s attention. These signs can have harmless causes, so a visual change does not establish melanoma. Examination and, when needed, removal of the suspicious area for laboratory testing provide the answer. Family history, many moles, and intense sun exposure are useful details to share.

Tell a parent, guardian, school nurse, or trusted adult and book an appointment with a dermatologist or primary-care clinician. Do not pick, scratch, or attempt to remove the mark at home. Photographing it beside a ruler can help show change, but it does not replace examination. If melanoma is confirmed, care may include surgical excision, lymph-node assessment, scans, or immunotherapy, chosen by the specialist team.

Arrange prompt assessment for a mole that is rapidly changing, bleeding without clear injury, repeatedly crusting, or becoming painful. Seek urgent help for uncontrolled bleeding, severe pain, fever after a procedure, or swelling that affects breathing or swallowing. A worrying-looking mole is not proof of cancer; urgency comes from the change or symptom and the need for a proper examination.

Ask what changes were seen, whether the lesion should be removed for testing, how the result will be explained, and whether family members need skin checks. Ask how to protect the skin during outdoor activities and when the next review should occur.