What should you know about melanoma red?

Melanoma may show uneven colour, including shades of red, pink, brown, black, or white. Concern increases when a mark is different from your other marks, changes over time, has an irregular outline, or develops bleeding, crusting, itching, or tenderness. Redness alone cannot identify melanoma.

Irritation, eczema, infection, an inflamed mole, or a harmless vascular spot can also make skin red. A photograph and clinical examination may help track change, but they do not replace an assessment when a mark is evolving.

Compare the mark with nearby skin without repeatedly picking or rubbing it. Take a dated photograph in good light with a size reference, note when the redness began, and arrange a dermatology review if it persists or changes. Do not try to burn, cut, or remove a suspicious mark yourself.

A clinician may examine the area with magnification and decide whether a biopsy or surgical excision is appropriate. If melanoma is diagnosed, further assessment may include lymph-node evaluation and a treatment plan based on the findings.

Seek prompt review for redness that surrounds a changing pigmented mark, spreads, bleeds, forms a persistent crust, or occurs with a new firm lump. Get urgent help for rapidly spreading redness with fever, severe pain, facial swelling, or feeling very unwell, because infection may need immediate treatment.

Ask whether the colour pattern is concerning, whether the area needs a biopsy, what changes to photograph, and how soon it should be rechecked. Ask which symptoms suggest infection and whether treatment or medicines could be irritating the skin.