Melanoma can often be found early. Everyone can play an important role in finding skin cancer early, when it is curable.

Self-exam

It's important to check your own skin, preferably once a month. You should know the pattern of moles, blemishes, freckles, and other marks on your skin so that you'll notice any new moles or changes in moles already present. Self-exam is best done in a well-lit room in front of a full-length mirror. A hand-held mirror should be used for areas that are hard to see, such as the backs of your thighs.

All areas should be examined, including your palms and soles, scalp, ears, nails, and your back. (For a more thorough description of a skin self-exam, see the American Cancer Society documents, Skin Cancer Prevention and Early Detection and Why You Should Know About Melanoma.) Friends and family members can also help you with these exams, especially for those hard-to-see areas, such as your back. Be sure to show your doctor any area that concerns you and ask your doctor to look at areas that may be hard for you to see. In men, about 1 of every 3 melanomas occurs on the back.

Spots on the skin that are new or changing in size, shape, feel, or color should be evaluated promptly. Any unusual sore, lump, blemish, marking, or change in the way an area of the skin looks or feels may be a sign of skin cancer or a warning that it might occur. The skin might become scaly or crusty or begin oozing or bleeding. It may feel itchy, tender, or painful. Redness and swelling may develop.

Since moles may develop into melanoma or indicate an increased risk for melanoma, it is important to know the difference between melanoma and an ordinary mole. Sometimes this may be hard to tell, so show your doctor any mole that you are unsure of.

Exam by a health care professional

Part of a routine cancer-related checkup should include a skin exam by a health care professional qualified to diagnose skin cancer. Your doctor should be willing to discuss any concerns you might have about this exam.

Any suspicious lesions or unusual moles should be seen by your primary doctor or by a dermatologist, a doctor who specializes in skin problems. Many dermatologists use a technique called dermatoscopy or epiluminescence microscopy (ELM) to look at spots on the skin more clearly. (See the section, "How is melanoma diagnosed?" for more information.)

What to look for

Normal moles

A normal mole is usually an evenly colored brown, tan, or black spot on the skin. It can be either flat or raised. It can be round or oval. Moles are generally less than 6 millimeters (about ¼ inch) across (about the width of a pencil eraser). A mole can be present at birth, or it can appear during childhood or young adulthood. Several moles can appear at the same time, especially on areas of the skin exposed to the sun.

Once a mole has developed, it will usually stay the same size, shape, and color for many years. Moles may eventually fade away in older people.

Most people have moles, and almost all moles are harmless. But it is important to recognize changes in a mole that can suggest a melanoma may be developing.

Possible signs and symptoms of melanoma

The ABCD rule can help distinguish a normal mole from an abnormal mole or a melanoma. Moles that have any of these traits should be checked by your doctor.

Asymmetry: One half of the mole does not match the other half.

Border irregularity: The edges of the mole are irregular, ragged, blurred, or notched.

Color: The color of the mole is not the same all over. There may be differing shades of tan, brown, or black, and sometimes patches of pink, red, blue, or white.

Diameter: The mole is larger than 6 millimeters across (about ¼ inch or about the size of a pencil eraser), although melanomas can sometimes be smaller than this.

Another very important warning of melanoma is that a mole has been growing or changing its shape or color. Some melanomas do not fit the ABCD rule described above, so it is important to report changes in skin lesions, new skin lesions, any growths that look different from the rest of your moles, and any sores that don't heal.

Last Medical Review: 06/05/2008
Last Revised: 05/14/2009