Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer, and it often starts as a mole or spot that changes over time. It can look like a new or changing dark spot, but it may also appear pink, red, blue, white, gray, or even skin-colored.

What it looks like

Common warning signs include:

  • Asymmetry: one half doesn’t match the other.
  • Border: edges may be irregular, ragged, scalloped, or blurry.
  • Color: more than one color or uneven shading in the same spot.
  • Diameter: often larger than about 6 mm, though some melanomas are smaller.
  • Evolving: it changes in size, shape, color, or symptoms like itching or bleeding.

Other looks

Melanoma does not always look like a typical dark mole. It can also show up as a firm bump, a sore that bleeds or won’t heal, or a discolored patch on the palms, soles, fingers, toes, or under nails.

When to get checked

If a spot looks different from your other moles, is changing, or is bleeding, itching, or growing, it’s worth seeing a dermatologist soon. Catching melanoma early matters because it is more treatable then.

If you want, I can also give you a simple “melanoma vs normal mole” checklist.