What should you know about melanoma spots?

Watch for a spot that is different from your other moles, develops uneven colour, has an irregular outline, grows, or changes over time. A spot can be flat or raised, and symptoms such as itching, bleeding, tenderness, or crusting add useful context. These features are reasons for assessment, not proof that the spot is melanoma; benign lesions can also change or become irritated.

A clinician may examine the whole skin surface and use a dermatoscope to view structures beneath the surface. If the spot is suspicious, removal or sampling allows a pathologist to assess the cells and measure features that cannot be judged reliably by sight.

Book a dermatology appointment and take a clear history of when the change began. If safe and practical, keep an earlier photograph for comparison, but do not delay care while monitoring it. Avoid picking or applying bleaching, acid, or wart products. The clinician may recommend Surgical Excision or Skin Cancer Surgery according to the spot's location and examination.

Arrange prompt review for a spot that bleeds without clear injury, forms a persistent sore, changes rapidly, or develops several colours. Seek urgent medical help for severe illness, new weakness, confusion, or a severe headache. Those symptoms need broader assessment and should not be explained away as a skin problem.

Ask what change is visible, whether dermoscopy is needed, and whether the entire spot should be removed for testing. If melanoma is diagnosed, ask about margins, staging, Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy, and the schedule for Follow-Up After Cancer Treatment.