What Is Melanoma?

Melanoma comes from skin cells called melanocytes. These cells produce melanin, the dark pigment that gives our skin its color. Most melanomas are black or brown in color, but some are pink, red, purple or skin-colored.

Any area of the body can be affected by melanoma, with about 30% of melanomas beginning in an existing mole on your body and the rest appearing on normal skin. Melanoma accounts for only about 1% of all skin cancers, but is responsible for the majority of skin cancer-related deaths. 

Knowing how to spot melanoma early is important because when spotted early, melanomas are highly treatable.

types of skin cancer

Signs and Symptoms of Melanoma

Melanoma can appear as moles, scaly patches, open sores or raised bumps.

Use the American Academy of Dermatology’s ABCDE rules for detecting melanoma when you’re just not sure about a spot on your skin.

What to Look For?

Use this ABCDE chart below to help you quickly and more easily identify any changes in your moles and make an appointment to see our team.

Asymmetry:

When half of the mole does not match the other half

mole_A
Border:

When the border (edges) of the mole are ragged or irregular

mole_B
Color:

When the color of the mole varies throughout

mole_C
Diameter:

If the mole’s diameter is larger than a pencil’s eraser

mole_D
Evolving:

Changes in the way the mole looks over time

mole_E

Please schedule an appointment to have any spots you think just don’t look or feel right. And remember, all melanomas do not fit the ABCDE rule, so let us know about anything unusual or changes in any existing moles.

Causes and Diagnoses of Melanoma

Most experts agree that one of the major risk factors for melanoma is sun exposure, especially sunburns in youth. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from tanning beds also increases your risk of melanoma and has been designated as cancer causing by the World Health Organization.

Risk factors

Although anyone can develop melanoma, those at an increased risk have:

  • A personal or family history of melanoma
  • Fair skin, freckles, blond or red hair, and blue eyes
  • A history of prolonged or excessive sun exposure, including blistering sunburns
  • Tanning bed use
  • Lots of moles, especially atypical moles

Fact:

Having more than 5 sunburns doubles your risk for melanoma.

Diagnosing Melanoma Carcinoma

In order to determine if you have skin cancer, our team will perform a comprehensive skin exam, checking for bumps or spots that look abnormal in color, size, shape or texture.

Our team will also review your medical history and ask you about:

  • Your past exposure to the sun
  • Your personal or family history of skin conditions
  • When you first noticed the spot on your skin
  • If the spot has changed at all in size or appearance


Following the exam, if we think your spot should be evaluated further, we will biopsy the spot and send the tissue sample to our dermatopathology lab where our pathologist will examine it. If cancer is found, your doctor will discuss the different options you will have for treating the melanoma.

Melanoma Treatment

Surgery is generally the main treatment for melanoma. The procedure involves cutting out the cancer and some of the normal skin surrounding it. The amount of healthy skin removed will depend on the size and location of the skin cancer. Typically, surgical excision of melanoma can be performed under local anesthesia in the dermatologist’s office.

In the early stages of melanoma, surgery has a high probability of curing the melanoma. However more advanced cases may require other types of treatments, like chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy.