What should you know about what melanoma looks like?

Melanoma can appear as a new mark or as a change in an existing mole. Look for uneven halves, an irregular or blurred border, several shades such as brown, black, pink, red, blue, or white, and a spot that is clearly different from nearby moles. A lesion may enlarge, become raised, itch, crust, or bleed. Melanoma can occur on less obvious sites, including the scalp, soles, nail units, and areas not often exposed to sunlight.

Check your skin in good light, including between the toes, soles, nails, scalp, and back with help from another person. Keep a dated photograph of a mark that is being monitored, but do not rely on photographs to diagnose it. Book a dermatology assessment for a new or changing lesion. The clinician may use dermoscopy and recommend Surgical Excision or another biopsy. If melanoma is diagnosed, staging determines whether further surgery, Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy, or Immunotherapy is discussed.

Arrange prompt review for a mark that changes in size, shape, colour, surface, or sensation, particularly when it repeatedly bleeds or fails to heal. Seek urgent care for heavy bleeding, rapidly spreading redness, severe swelling, or a sudden serious symptom. A visual warning sign does not prove melanoma, and a melanoma may not show every classic feature, so uncertainty is a reason for assessment rather than reassurance or panic.

Ask what feature is concerning, whether dermoscopy or tissue sampling is needed, and how soon the result will be available. If melanoma is confirmed, ask about its depth and stage, the proposed margin of removal, lymph-node assessment, and the plan for Follow-Up After Cancer Treatment.