What should you know about melanoma under foot?

A mark on the sole can be a bruise, wart, callus-related bleeding, fungal change, or benign mole. Melanoma may appear as an irregular brown, black, grey, or pink patch, sometimes with several shades. Warning changes include spreading, an uneven border, increasing thickness, bleeding, ulceration, or a mark unlike the others on your feet.

Foot pressure and friction can obscure the edges and make self-checking difficult. A clinician may inspect the sole and between the toes with magnification. If needed, a biopsy identifies the cause and helps plan treatment.

Arrange a prompt dermatology visit for a new or changing sole mark. Do not file, cut, freeze, or peel it as though it were a wart or callus. Photograph the area, record whether it hurts or bleeds, and wear comfortable footwear that reduces rubbing until it is assessed.

If melanoma is diagnosed, treatment can include surgical excision. Further surgery, sentinel lymph node biopsy, imaging, or immunotherapy depends on the pathology and whether the disease has spread.

Seek prompt review for a sole spot that enlarges, changes colour, develops an irregular outline, bleeds, forms an ulcer, or does not settle as a bruise would. Seek urgent care for rapidly spreading redness, pus, fever, severe swelling, or inability to bear weight, which may indicate infection or another acute foot problem.

Ask whether the area could be a callus, bruise, wart, or melanoma; whether a biopsy is needed; how to protect the sole while it heals; and when results will be available. If melanoma is found, ask about excision margins, lymph-node assessment, mobility during recovery, and follow-up.