What should you know about melanoma on top of the foot?

Melanoma develops from pigment-producing cells. On the top of the foot, it can look like a new dark mark or a mole with an evolving border, uneven colour, or increasing size. It may be irritated by sandals or footwear and then crust or bleed. A suspicious appearance does not prove melanoma; a clinician must assess it and may need tissue testing.

The examination may include the foot, toenails, soles, and nearby lymph nodes. A biopsy provides a diagnosis and information about the lesion that helps determine whether local surgery is enough or whether further care is needed.

Book a prompt appointment with a dermatologist or doctor. Record when the mark changed and whether footwear, sun exposure, shaving, or an injury may have affected it. Keep the area clean, avoid picking at it, and do not mask it with cosmetic products before examination.

If melanoma is confirmed, surgical excision is often discussed. Depending on depth and location, the team may consider skin cancer surgery, tumour removal surgery, or a sentinel lymph node biopsy. Immunotherapy is another treatment discussed in selected cases.

Arrange prompt care for a new or changing mark, irregular edge, multiple colours, persistent crust, tenderness, or bleeding on the top of the foot. Seek urgent attention when bleeding will not stop with gentle pressure, redness spreads rapidly, or swelling and pain make walking difficult.

Ask whether the lesion needs a biopsy, how its position may affect footwear and healing, and whether nearby nodes should be checked. Ask what changes should prompt a return visit and how the treated area will be monitored over time.