Melanoma on the palm: what to know

The palms have thicker skin and natural lines that can make a new mark harder to recognise. Look for an uneven brown, black, grey, or reddish area; an irregular edge; several colours; growth across skin lines; a firm bump; or a lesion that bleeds or ulcerates. Melanoma can occur on palm skin that receives little direct sun.

A clinician compares the lesion with nearby skin, checks the rest of the skin and examines regional lymph nodes. A biopsy identifies the diagnosis and features used for staging. Friction, a splinter, a bruise, a wart, and harmless pigmentation can resemble a concerning mark, so appearance alone cannot settle the question.

Make an appointment for a new, persistent, or changing palm mark. Take a clear photograph with a scale beside it and record whether it has altered, but avoid cutting, scraping, or freezing it yourself. Mention repeated pressure, hand injury, occupational exposure, and any previous melanoma.

If testing confirms melanoma, treatment may include Surgical Excision or broader Skin Cancer Surgery. The team may discuss how much tissue to remove, wound closure, hand function, and whether sentinel lymph node biopsy is useful. Treatment is individualised according to the lesion and stage.

Seek prompt review if a palm lesion changes in size, shape, colour, or surface, or if it repeatedly bleeds, crusts, hurts, or does not heal. Seek urgent help for uncontrolled bleeding, rapidly spreading redness with fever, severe swelling, or loss of finger movement. These problems can reflect injury or infection as well as cancer, and each needs assessment.

Ask whether the lesion needs a biopsy and how the result will affect the next step. Ask about preserving grip and movement, expected wound care, lymph-node assessment, and signs of recurrence to watch for. Ask how often your skin and palms should be examined after treatment.