Symptoms of melanoma may include moles that aren’t symmetrical or change in color, shape, and size. Spots that bleed or don’t heal may also point to skin cancer. Early diagnosis may improve the outlook of the condition.

Melanoma is a type of cancer that typically affects the skin. Learning prevention tips and knowing how to identify the early signs may help lower the chance of complications.

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Melanoma may appear as a mole that looks different from the other moles on your skin. This is known as the “ugly duckling sign” of melanoma. It’s possible for melanoma to start either in an existing or new mole.

A helpful way to look out for signs of melanoma is to use the ABCDE rule. Here’s the breakdown of the rule:

  • Asymmetry (A): Regular moles have a consistent, cohesive appearance. In contrast, an irregular mole can have two halves that don’t match each other in appearance or size.
  • Border (B): A typical mole has a well-defined border, while the border of an irregular mole may seem unusual, blurry, or ragged.
  • Color (C): Most regular moles are tan, brown, or black and have an even distribution of color. An irregular mole may have different shades within and include areas of white, blue, or pinkish skin.
  • Diameter (D): Many typical moles are less than 6 millimeters wide. This is smaller than the width of a pencil eraser. Irregular moles that could be melanoma are often, but not always, larger.
  • Evolving (E): The appearance of a mole often stays the same. Meanwhile, irregular moles tend to change in size, shape, and color.

The most common form of melanoma appears as a mole that grows slowly and superficially across the top layer of your skin. This is known as superficial spreading melanoma.

Other symptoms of melanoma may include moles that:

Healthcare professionals stage skin cancer depending on the tumor size and whether it has reached the lymph nodes or distant tissues.

You can read more on skin cancer stages and melanoma staging.

About 78% of melanoma diagnoses happen when the cancer is localized. But late diagnoses may find that the melanoma has already spread to lymph nodes or reached more distant tissues (metastasized).

General symptoms of metastatic melanoma include:

  • fatigue
  • reduced appetite
  • unintended weight loss

Additional symptoms of melanoma may depend on where the cancer has spread to. Possible areas melanoma may reach include:

  • Lymph nodes: Symptoms may include swollen or tender lymph nodes.
  • Other skin areas: Lumps or nodules under the skin may signal skin cancer. Discolored areas of skin that are flat and purple or gray in color may also merit a skin cancer screening.
  • Lungs: Shortness of breath or a cough that may bring up blood may be signs of metastatic cancer.
  • Brain: Melanoma that has spread to the brain may cause persistent and intense headaches, nausea, or seizures.
  • Liver: Symptoms of metastasis in the liver may include nausea or pain in the upper-right part of your abdomen.
  • Bones: Bone pain, fractures, or nerve problems like numbness, weakness, or tingling may point to cancer metastasis.

These symptoms may result from other conditions. Only a healthcare professional can provide an accurate diagnosis.

You can learn more about the early signs of skin cancer here.

Other symptoms of melanoma

Signs and symptoms of melanoma may vary depending on location.

For example, eye melanoma symptoms may include:

  • dark spots in the colored tissue of the eye (iris)
  • changes in vision
  • floaters or spots you see floating around your vision field
  • eye bulging
  • changes in the way your eyes look and move

Subungual melanoma or melanoma under the nails may result in symptoms in the nails like:

  • pain
  • bleeding
  • bands of color that change in size and shape
  • splitting nails
  • pus

Other locations and types of melanoma that may have different symptoms include:

Doing a skin self-examination (SSE) may help identify early signs of melanoma.

You may want to have enough natural lighting when examining your or someone else’s skin.

Consider these steps when performing an SSE:

  1. In front of a mirror, examine the front of your body, including your face, ears, chest, and stomach. If you have breasts, lift them up so that you can examine the folds of skin.
  2. Raise your arms and look at the skin on both sides of your body, including your underarms.
  3. Check the skin on your arms, including your forearms, fingers, palms, and fingernails. Don’t forget the area between your fingers.
  4. Sit down and go over the skin of your legs. Check all areas, including your upper and lower legs, feet, and toenails. Don’t forget to check the area between your toes as well as the soles of your feet.
  5. While sitting, use a hand mirror to check the backs of your legs.
  6. Stand back up and use the hand mirror to help you check your lower back, buttocks, and genital area.
  7. Get back in front of a mirror and use the hand mirror to help you look over your upper back, head, and neck. Try to scan your scalp using a comb or blow dryer to part your hair in order to get a better look. Remember to check behind and around your ears.

You want to include all areas of your body when doing a self-exam, including those that see little sun.

Dermatologists recommend that you do an SSE once every month.

If you find an area of skin that concerns you during an SSE, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with a skin cancer specialist.

You may want to schedule your skin cancer screening if you find:

  • moles that are consistent with the “ugly duckling sign” or meet any of the ABCDE criteria
  • unusual lesions on your skin that don’t seem to heal
  • moles or skin tags that itch, bleed, or become painful
  • pigmented lines, streaks, or spots under fingernails or toenails

If a healthcare professional suspects your skin signs may point to melanoma skin cancer, they may perform a skin biopsy. After taking a tissue sample, they’ll send it to a lab to check whether cancer cells are present.

If your results come back positive for cancer, your healthcare team will discuss melanoma treatment options with you.

You can read more about skin cancer screening here.

Melanoma symptoms may include skin moles or areas that change in color, size, texture, and shape. Spots that are painful, bleeding, or look like sores that don’t heal may also show signs of melanoma skin cancer.

Self-examinations may help you identify early melanoma symptoms. Getting a cancer screening by a healthcare professional can provide you with more information about any areas of concern you find.