Skin Cancer

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Symptoms

General Warning Signs

The following signs may mean that a skin spot is cancer or could become cancer:

  • A new skin growth or spot that is tender to the touch
  • A waxy or pearly pimple with enlarged blood vessels and a raised border
  • A spot that looks like a scar
  • A reddish patch of skin (flat or slightly raised)
  • Rough, scaly, or crusty areas of skin
  • Thick or rough-looking growths
  • A wound that oozes and does not heal
  • A patch or mole that has become darker
  • Any changes in the color, size, surface, or borders of a mole

The “ABCDEs” of Melanoma

These signs may mean a mole is melanoma or could turn into one:

  • Asymmetry – The mole is uneven or irregular in shape
  • Borders – The edges of the mole are uneven or irregular
  • Colors – The mole has more than one color, like tan, brown, gray, black, or blue-black
  • Diameter – The mole is bigger than 6 millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser)
  • Evolving – The mole is changing in size, shape, color, surface, or symptoms

It is important to check for dark brown or black patches on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and under the nails. These could be melanoma.

Common skin growths that are not cancer

Seborrheic keratoses are common skin growths that usually start around age 50. They look like stuck-on, dark red or brown patches. They mostly appear on the chest, back, and face.

Contact your regular healthcare provider or a dermatologist (a doctor who specializes in skin conditions) if you notice anything on your skin that seems unusual or worries you.

 

Last Updated May 2026

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