What should you know about melanoma look like?

A melanoma may be darker than nearby moles, but colour alone is not enough. Look for an asymmetrical shape, an edge that is blurred or notched, several colours in one mark, or a spot that is clearly different from the others. Growth, thickening, bleeding, crusting, persistent itching, or tenderness can also signal change. Melanoma may occur on ordinary-looking skin and can develop under a nail, on the sole, or in another area that receives little sun.

Many harmless marks share some of these features. A mirror, good lighting, and a trusted person can help you inspect hard-to-see areas, but photographs and online comparisons cannot provide a diagnosis.

Make a dermatology appointment if a mark is new, evolving, or unlike your other moles. Note its location and when you first noticed the change. Avoid scratching, cutting, or applying acids to it. A clinician may examine it with dermoscopy and recommend a biopsy. If melanoma is diagnosed, Surgical Excision or another Skin Cancer Surgery approach may be discussed according to the pathology result and location.

Seek prompt review for a mark that changes in shape, shade, thickness, or symptoms, or repeatedly bleeds. Arrange faster care if the change is rapid or the lesion is on the eye area, nail, or another difficult-to-monitor site. Emergency services are for heavy bleeding, fainting, seizure, sudden weakness, or severe breathing difficulty; a concerning skin mark itself usually needs prompt outpatient assessment rather than emergency treatment.

What changes do you see under magnification? Should this mark be biopsied or photographed first? If a biopsy is needed, what will healing involve? How will the result affect the next step? How can I check areas that are difficult to see?