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Symptoms

Main symptoms of melanoma skin cancer

A new mole or a change in an existing mole may be signs of melanoma.

Melanomas can appear anywhere on your body, but they're more common in areas that are often exposed to the sun.

Some rarer types can affect the eyes, soles of the feet, palms of the hands or genitals.

Check your skin for any unusual changes. Use a mirror or ask a partner or friend to check any areas you cannot see.

Mole with an uneven shape or edges

Close-up of a melanoma on a person with white skin. There is an unevenly shaped light brown patch on the skin, with darker brown areas in the middle.

Normal moles are usually round with smooth edges.

Melanomas are often an uneven shape. They may have 2 different shaped halves and uneven edges.

Mole with a mix of colours

Close-up of a multicoloured melanoma on white skin. The melanoma is a mix of brown and black.

Normal moles are usually only 1 colour.

Melanomas are often a mix of 2 or more colours.

Large mole

A large brown, irregular shaped melanoma on a person's left cheek, close to their nose. Shown is on white skin.

Normal moles are usually small.

Melanomas tend to be bigger, often more than 6mm wide.

Mole that changes over time

Normal moles usually do not change over time.

A mole that changes size, shape or colour may be a melanoma.

Other signs to look out for include moles that are:

Close-up of a melanoma on white skin. The melanoma is red and swollen, with crusty brown and black areas.

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

  • you have a mole that's changed size, shape or colour
  • you have a mole that's painful or itchy
  • you have a mole that's inflamed, bleeding or crusty
  • you have a new or unusual mark on your skin that has not gone away after a few weeks
  • you have a dark area under a nail that has not been caused by an injury

Finding a melanoma as early as possible can mean it's easier to treat.

What happens at the GP appointment

You will be asked some questions about your health, family medical history, medical conditions and your symptoms.

Tell the GP if you have a mole, freckle or other area of skin that's recently changed. Also tell them if you or a member of your family have had skin cancer in the past.

The GP will look at your mole and any other areas of affected skin. They may ask you if they can take a photograph of it to send to a specialist (dermatologist) to look at. This is called teledermatology.

Referral to a specialist

The GP may refer you to a specialist in hospital for more tests if they think you have a condition that needs to be investigated.

This may be an urgent referral, usually within 2 weeks, if you have certain symptoms. This does not definitely mean you have cancer.

Information:

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Page last reviewed: 7 February 2020
Next review due: 7 February 2023