9 Sneaky Warning Signs of Melanoma You Might Miss

Medically Reviewed

Updated Dec 22, 2020

By

Krista Bennett DeMaio

Medical ReviewerRajal Patel, M.D.

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You know what melanoma looks like, right? You’ve probably seen the iconic pictures of a big, brown mole with jagged edges. And while that’s the image that most of us conjure when we think of melanoma, it’s not the only sign of this skin cancer. Some are far less obvious. Melanoma may not be brown; it may not be a mole—it might not even appear on your skin! We talked to top skin cancer experts to pinpoint the sneakiest forms of malignant melanoma.

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In people of color, melanoma doesn’t always show up as a mole. Sometimes it just looks like a dark lesion or patch of dark skin. And it often surfaces in places you wouldn’t expect melanoma to grow: the soles of your feet or the palms of your hands. Melanoma in dark skin is far less common than it is in fair complexions, but when it does happen, it’s often deadlier because it’s typically found at a later stage. One more reason to be attuned to any changes in your body!

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“When melanoma pops up on your nails, it looks more like a bruise under your nail plate,” says Heather Woolery-Lloyd, M.D., director of the skin of color division in the department of dermatology of the University of Miami. Called subungual melanoma, which translates to “melanoma beneath a fingernail or toenail,” this type typically shows up as a dark, vertical line down the length of your nail. Over time, the line may spread, covering more of your nail. It’s also known as acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM), melanoma on your hands, feet, or nails.

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A dark spot on your gums can signal mucosal melanoma, an extremely rare form of the skin cancer that appears on mucus membranes—in your mouth, your nose, genitals, and even within your respiratory and GI tracts. Mucosal melanoma accounts for 1.4% of all melanoma cases, but it’s particularly lethal compared to other forms of the disease. Aside from pigmented lesions in these mucous-lined areas, other symptoms may include pain, bleeding, lumps, or changes in your GI tract such as diarrhea or constipation.

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A halo might have a positive association (angels!), but when there’s a white ring surrounding a mole, you may want to show it to a dermatologist. In rare cases, the white circle around a mole can signify melanoma. “Depigmentation can appear around normal moles, too, but it can suggest there’s something going on with your immune system,” says Dr. Woolery-Lloyd. So, it’s worth checking it out, especially if the mole with a halo is oddly shaped and asymmetrical.

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We tend to think of melanomas as brown or black in color, but they can be pink or reddish, or lack color all together, appearing as a flesh-colored spot or bump, says Ava Shamban, M. D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at UCLA-Geffen School of Medicine in Los Angeles. “It’s called amelanotic melanoma,” she explains. It can be particularly tricky to diagnose because it often looks like other forms of skin cancer such as basal cell carcinomas, or even just a cystic pimple or scar tissue.

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If you’re blanketed in oddly-shaped moles, you have a greater chance of developing melanoma—12 times the risk if you have just 10 atypical moles, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. “It’s called dysplastic nevi syndrome, which means you have a lot of moles that have some irregular features,” says Ellen Marmur, M.D., Mohs surgeon and associate clinical professor of dermatology at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. “Many of us will have dysplastic nevi that are considered mild and moderate, but anything that’s severely dysplastic will become melanoma if left untouched. ”

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A new or existing spot that suddenly starts to bleed is a red flag for melanoma or another type of skin cancer. “I once had a patient with melanoma that looked more like a bloody skin tag, as if it had been traumatized,” says Dr. Woolery-Lloyd. “I wasn’t even thinking melanoma at first.” Bottom line: Any mole that’s itching, bleeding, or oozing needs to be checked out by a physician, ideally a board-certified dermatologist, trained to spot these rare forms of melanoma.

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You may have heard to flag moles that have a diameter larger than a pencil eraser (1/4-inch). That’s pretty hard to miss, right? But that doesn’t mean you should ignore the little stuff. “Even though we think of malignant melanoma as being large, it can appear initially as a small, dark spot that just looks creepy,” says Dr. Shamban. Melanomas can be tiny black dots that are no bigger than a pen tip. Any new or existing moles that stand out from the rest in color, shape, or size, should be looked at by a physician.

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Sometimes melanoma is not on your skin, but inside your eye (a.k.a. uveal melanoma). This type is particularly tricky because the tumor isn’t readily visible to, well, the naked eye. You’d need an ophthamologist to spot it. But you may notice a darker spot on the iris of your eye or a change in the shape of your pupil. Other symptoms of uveal melanomas include blurry vision, loss of vision, and floaters (those golden flecks that float around your vision). If you’re experiencing any of these, get thee to an eye doc, stat.

Signs of Melanoma Skin Cancer

• Normal moles
• Possible signs and symptoms of melanoma

Unusual moles, sores, lumps, blemishes, markings, or changes in the way an area of the skin looks or feels may be a sign of melanoma or another type of skin cancer, or a warning that it might occur.

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). Some moles can be present at birth, but most appear during childhood or young adulthood. New moles that appear later in life should be checked by a doctor.

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

Most people have moles, and almost all moles are harmless. But it’s important to recognize changes in a mole – such as in its size, shape, color, or texture – that can suggest a melanoma may be developing.

The most important warning sign of melanoma is a new spot on the skin or a spot that is changing in size, shape, or color.

Another important sign is a spot that looks different from all of the other spots on your skin (known as the ugly duckling sign).

If you have one of these warning signs, have your skin checked by a doctor.

The ABCDE rule is another guide to the usual signs of melanoma. Be on the lookout and tell your doctor about spots that have any of the following features:

• A is for Asymmetry: One half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other.
• B is for Border: The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred.
• C is for Color: The color is not the same all over and may include different shades of brown or black, or sometimes with patches of pink, red, white, or blue.
• D is for Diameter: The spot is larger than 6 millimeters across (about ¼ inch – the size of a pencil eraser), although melanomas can sometimes be smaller than this.
• E is for Evolving: The mole is changing in size, shape, or color.

Some melanomas don’t fit these rules. It’s important to tell your doctor about any changes or new spots on the skin, or growths that look different from the rest of your moles.

Other warning signs are:

• A sore that doesn’t heal
• Spread of pigment from the border of a spot into surrounding skin
• Redness or a new swelling beyond the border of the mole
• Change in sensation, such as itchiness, tenderness, or pain
• Change in the surface of a mole – scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or the appearance of a lump or bump

Be sure to show your doctor any areas that concern you and ask your doctor to look at areas that may be hard for you to see. It’s sometimes hard to tell the difference between melanoma and an ordinary mole, even for doctors, so it’s important to show your doctor any mole that you are unsure of.

To see examples of normal moles and melanomas, visit the Skin Cancer Image Gallery on our website.

Remember, too, that a small portion of melanomas start in places other than the skin, such as under a fingernail or toenail, inside the mouth, or even in the colored part of the eye (iris), so it’s important to show a doctor any new or changing spots in these areas as well.

The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team

Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.

Last Revised: August 14, 2019

American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.

A black dot appeared on the mole: what does it matter?

A mole is medically called a melanoform nevus. In general, education poses no danger as long as its status quo persists. But if any changes in the color, structure or size of the nevus have begun, you should immediately consult a doctor. Especially if a black dot appears on the mole, because this can be a sign of a dangerous oncological condition.

Causes of blackheads

Usually black dots appear for the following reasons:

1. Physical and mechanical damage to the mole. Basically, nevi have the shape of a hemisphere, somewhat elevated above the surface of the skin, respectively, the formation is easiest to touch with clothing, a nail or other object. Moles are much more sensitive to pain than normal skin, so a person notices such an injury immediately.
2. The effect of solar ultraviolet radiation. Such radiation is dangerous for the body, especially for the skin. The process of the appearance of black dots is quite simply explained. This is a protective reaction of the body associated with an increased accumulation of melanin in the area with a mole.

Danger of black dots

If a black dot appears on a mole, this is a sign that some processes have begun to occur in it, which are not always safe for health. There are several reasons for this:

Mole turned black: possible causes and consequences. Dangerous and…

1. If black dots appear on a brown mole, it may be a superficially spreading melanoma. This neoplasm is most often found in middle-aged women. Over time, the black dot that appears inside the mole grows, completely changing the color of the nevus to black or blue. After that, the formation begins to increase in size, changing its shape. It becomes hard and rough to the touch. If treatment does not begin at this stage, then subsequently the mole begins to secrete ichor and blood when pressed, it becomes painful even with a slight touch of its surface.
2. A mole with a black dot in the center may be nodular melanoma. This type of nevus develops within a very short time, which increases its danger at times. The formation quickly turns black, increases in size several times, and when ripe, begins to ooze blood and ichor. This type of neoplasm has no medical treatment. It can only be removed surgically.
3. Acral lentiginous melanoma affects mainly children who spend most of the day in the open sun. And if a black dot appeared on the leg like a mole, most often on the sole of the foot, then most likely this is this type of nevus. It develops extremely quickly and if left untreated, it turns into a malignant tumor.

Sometimes numerous black dots on a mole are normal. This growth is called Hutchinson’s freckles. They occur in elderly people against the background of age spots. Such moles grow slowly and can reach 10 cm in diameter. It is necessary to treat these formations, since they are extremely painful and constantly ooze ichor mixed with blood.

Dark mole: symptoms, possible causes, obligatory…

Possible complications

When a black dot appears on a mole, this is already a complication. That is, such a condition is abnormal, and if urgent treatment is not started, the complications can be much more dangerous and difficult.

First of all, these are metastases to organs adjacent to the mole. They can touch internal organs such as the liver, lungs, kidneys, stomach. A simple-looking mole can be an indicator of cancer.

Another complication concerns the largest organ in man, the skin. Melanoma leads to skin lesions with multiple moles that make a person’s appearance repulsive. Especially when they cover the hands, face, neck and other exposed areas of the body.

There are known cases of moles covering almost 100% of the patient’s skin. The situation is further complicated by the fact that melanomas, degenerated from ordinary moles, are extremely painful. Any touch causes bleeding and sharp pain.

Birthmark on the leg: the significance of the location

The most dangerous complication is the penetration of melanoma metastases into the human brain. If the central nervous system is affected, then the death of the patient can occur suddenly, without apparent causes and prolonged illness.

Additional symptoms

If a black dot appears on the mole, then this is definitely a bad sign and you should consult a doctor. But this is not the only symptom that indicates the beginning of the development of a dangerous condition in the body. The following manifestations are usually observed:

1. The skin around the mole is itchy and itchy. An attempt to scratch the mole itself leads to injury and bleeding.
2. The hair follicles on the skin around the mole are destroyed and the hair falls out. This is especially noticeable on the scalp.
3. The spot itself is black, occurs anywhere on the mole – on the side, in the center, on the edge.
4. A mole with a spot grows rapidly, increasing several times over within 2-6 months.
5. The surface of the nevus cracks, oozing liquid. If the situation is left untreated, then the mole gradually turns into a bleeding ulcer.
6. Pigmented spots appear on the skin around the mole.

If the skin around the mole turns red, it means that the body’s immune system is trying to get rid of the neoplasm and it needs help at this moment. Usually a course of treatment and strengthening of the immune system is enough.

Diagnosis

The primary diagnosis to determine the degree of danger of a mole can be made independently. And if there are signs that a mole is turning into a dangerous melanoma, it is urgent to contact a specialist.

First of all, you need to remember that if the mole has become larger or more prominent, this is a bad sign.

Other dangerous symptoms are changes in the color of the mole, its borders, density and sensitivity. All this should be paid attention to, since the doctor will definitely ask about the dynamics and nature of the changes during the collection of anamnesis.

The second stage of determining why black dots appear on the mole is laboratory research. With their help, the composition of the blood, the level of leukocytes in it, hemoglobin, platelets and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate are determined. Any deviation from the norm in these measurements indicates the presence of a problem. The result of the patient’s urine test will report on the health of the kidneys, liver and protein metabolism.

Clarification of the diagnosis

Various instrumental diagnostic methods are used to clarify the diagnosis. For example, dermatoscopy using a device that visually determines the danger of a mole. To exclude cancer, a histological examination of the tissues of the mole and the skin around it is performed. In some cases, X-ray or computed tomography of the affected skin area is used.

Conservative treatment

Conservative treatment of moles with a black dot is ineffective, since the very presence of inclusions indicates that the situation has become more complicated, and complex treatment is required. Usually, the mole itself is treated with Viferon, Forezol, Paneavir and other similar drugs that penetrate deep into the thickness of the skin. In this case, the patient undergoes a course of treatment with vitamin complexes and immunity-strengthening drugs, such as Isoprinosine and the like. All drugs are prescribed by a doctor after a thorough diagnosis, self-medication in this situation is contraindicated.

Surgical treatment

A mole affected by a black dot can be removed in several ways.

1. Laser therapy. During this procedure, the mole is burned layer by layer with a thin laser beam. This allows you to destroy exactly the affected tissue without affecting healthy skin. The procedure is bloodless, so the patient does not face infection and long healing. He can go home immediately after the operation. The only disadvantage of this method of removal is severe pain, therefore, before the procedure, the patient is anesthetized the surgical field.
2. Electrocoagulation. This method is similar to laser therapy, except that the affected mole is removed with a powerful electric arc.
3. Cryodestruction. This method is used to remove small moles by freezing them with a special substance. The procedure is painless and fast. There are practically no scars after it.
4. The classic method of removing moles is by cutting them out of the skin. After such an operation, a bleeding wound remains, which eventually turns into a scar.

Treatment with folk remedies

There are several methods of treating moles using traditional medicine and medicinal plants. You can use these recipes only after the permission of the doctor and only if the mole does not pose a danger to humans. That is, it did not turn into melanoma.

One of the most famous methods in this direction is a mole compress made of grated garlic and lemon. It is believed that the daily use of this remedy will make the mole disappear in a week.

Another compress is baking soda with castor oil. The tool is prepared simply – castor oil and soda are mixed in equal proportions until a homogeneous mass is obtained. It is applied to the mole for 5 days, and for 10-12 hours. After that, the neoplasm resolves.

You can tie a fresh cut of celandine to a mole, having previously smeared it with the juice of this plant.

Prevention of the appearance of melanomas

In order for moles on the body from harmless formations not to turn into dangerous melanomas, you must follow the rules of prevention:

1. Do not appear in strong sun without clothes and headgear.
2. At the beach or by the pool, protect your skin with a protective cream.
3. Sunbeds should not be abused, especially if there is a predisposition to the appearance of moles and freckles.
4. If there is a suspicious change in the shape, color or size of a mole, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Conclusion

You need to understand that the sooner treatment is started, the better the prognosis will be. Even if a person has been diagnosed with first-degree cancer, they have a good chance of being completely cured. Thus, in this matter, the main thing is not to waste time. At the first symptoms of the degeneration of a mole into melanoma, you should visit a specialist to determine further actions.

ᐉ Black dots on a mole – CLICK HERE

Melanoform nevi are called moles. Everyone has them and with age they become more and more.

If the mole has a uniform color and does not bother the person, then there is no reason to worry. But if a black dot appears on the mole, then this already serves as a signal to pay attention to one’s own health.

Contents:

• Small black dots on a mole.
• How dangerous are small black dots on a mole.
• Treatment of black spots on moles.

Small black dots on a mole

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Black dots on moles are not normal. Most often they appear for reasons such as:

• Damage to the nevus. As a rule, a mole has the shape of a hemisphere, so it can rub against clothes, it is easy to touch it with nails. Even the slightest damage or minor scratch can cause a black dot to appear on the nevus.
• Excessive sun exposure. Ultraviolet is not very useful for human skin, and given that moles are more sensitive and tender, they are more exposed to the negative effects of the sun.

Therefore, the body “throws out” black dots on the nevus as a “defensive reaction”.

In this case, the black dot appears due to increased accumulation of melanin in the area where the nevus is located.

Please note! Not always small black dots indicate health problems. If they appeared relatively long ago and do not cause discomfort, then most likely these are Hutchinson’s freckles.

Over time, “freckles” can become painful and bleed a little, then this problem is easily solved by choosing a conservative treatment.

It is extremely difficult to fight black spots on moles, so it is better to prevent their occurrence.

Precautions:

1. Optimum temperature. This applies to lovers of baths and saunas. Elevated temperature (more than 110 degrees) can provoke the “degeneration” of a mole into a tumor.
2. Protect skin with sunscreen (especially in active sun).
3. Refusal to visit the solarium.
4. Gentle cleansing of moles. When washing, you do not need to rub the nevi with washcloths, avoid such areas from cleansing with scrubs.

People with a predisposition to a tumor process or a tendency to skin cancer, it is advisable to bathe in a bath or sauna with a temperature below 100 degrees. You can see all the options for convenient and comfortable saunas on the website vsebani.com.ua.

It is also worth noting that it is impossible to press and mechanically influence the mole.

Only blackheads and comedones that are located near the mole are squeezed out.

But this is done very carefully so as not to hook the nevus itself.

Why small black dots on a mole are dangerous

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A black dot on a mole requires an immediate visit to an oncologist. In most cases, it is a signal of the development of cancer.

It is extremely difficult to assess the risks on your own, but by the symptoms you can roughly understand what a person is dealing with.

Types of dangerous black dots on a mole:

1. If the dot appeared on a brown mole and is constantly increasing in size, then this is most likely a superficial spreading melanoma. In this case, the color of the nevus can vary from dark blue to black.
2. If small dots appear in the very center of the mole, then this indicates the development of nodular melanoma. In this case, the nevus quickly darkens, painful sensations appear, an ichor may ooze from the mole.
3. Black dots on moles in children are most often acral lentiginous melanoma.

Regardless of the type of melanoma, all formations need qualified treatment.

In its absence, there is a high risk of the mole “degenerating” into a malignant tumor.

The main “signals” for seeking medical help:

• A mole is cracking, blood and ichor ooze from it.
• Nevus itch, hair follicles around it are destroyed.
• Age spots appear around the mole.

The danger of black dots on a mole lies in the likelihood of damage to the skin by many nevi.

Treatment of black spots on moles

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Many people confuse black spots on moles with blackheads and comedones, so they try to get rid of them by squeezing.

But these black dots do not come out! This is dangerous to health and can lead to many negative consequences.

You can get rid of dots on moles with creams such as: Viferon, Forezol and Paneavir.

But local treatment is not always effective, therefore, most often people with a similar problem seek help for surgical intervention (cutting a mole from the skin, cryodestruction, laser therapy, electrocoagulation).

In non-started cases, folk methods help to fight black dots on nevi.

Folk remedies for removing black spots from moles

All compresses and ointments should preferably be applied to pre-steamed and cleansed skin. Going to the bath or sauna will help to cleanse the skin well. You can choose a sauna or a bath in any of the cities of Ukraine on the website vsebani.com.ua.

Celandine can help in the fight against black spots on moles:

1. Take fresh celandine stems.