Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. Other more common, but usually less serious types of skin cancer, include basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center has been designated as one of only 51 national Comprehensive Cancer Centers by the National Cancer Institute. You’re in expert hands with our nationally recognized skin cancer experts.
What Is Melanoma Skin Cancer?
Melanoma develops in skin cells called melanocytes, which produce melanin, the pigment that gives the skin, eyes and hair their colors. Although melanoma is the rarest type of skin cancer, it’s also the most dangerous because it can spread quickly.
Melanoma skin cancer is the leading cause of death from skin diseases. Knowing the signs and symptoms can help you find it in its early stages, when it’s highly curable.
There are four types of melanoma that begins on the skin:
- Superficial spreading melanoma: Accounting for 70 percent of melanomas, this is the most common type. Superficial spreading melanoma usually develops from an existing mole.
- Lentigo maligna melanoma: This type of melanoma tends to occur in older people. It most commonly begins on the face, ears and arms in skin that is chronically exposed to the sun.
- Nodular melanoma: This type of melanoma accounts for about 15 percent of melanoma cases. It usually looks like a black bump on the skin (although it can also be pink or red in color) and appears rapidly.
- Acral lentiginous melanoma: This type of melanoma develops on palms, soles or under the nail bed. It is not related to sun exposure, and it commonly occurs on people with darker skin.
Learn about other types of melanoma that affect the mucosal surfaces and eyes.
Signs and Symptoms of Melanoma Skin Cancer
More than 80 percent of all melanomas are detected by either the patient themselves or their partner, which makes awareness of risk factors and warning signs very important.
Moles that change in size, color, border or shape, or begin to itch or sting can be warning signs of melanoma and should be carefully monitored by a physician. Most melanomas are dark brown or black in color, but they can also be pink or have a blue color. Bleeding can be a sign of a more advanced melanoma.
The most frequent location for melanoma is on the trunk , arms and legs. The best way to successfully treat and eliminate melanoma is to find it early. Performing self-skin checks will help to find melanoma early, at a time when the disease is highly curable.
One way to spot a possible melanoma is to look for an “ugly duckling” sign. Like the ugly duckling in a fairy tale, a suspicious lesion may look different from other moles or spots.
The ABCDE system can help you recognize signs of melanoma in suspicious-looking moles or spots:
- Asymmetry: One half of the mole or spot has a different size or shape than the other.
- Borders: The lesion’s edges are irregular, with ragged or notched borders.
- Color: A single mole or spot may have lighter or darker areas or multiple colors, such as pink, tan, brown or black — or even red, white or blue.
- Diameter: The spot is usually larger than 5 mm (1/4 inch) in diameter — about the size of a pencil eraser. But melanomas can be even smaller when first detected.
- Evolution: Moles that change in size, color, border or shape — or begin to itch or bleed — can be warning signs of melanoma.
If you find a growth that matches any of the features on the above list, you should definitely consult your health care provider. We often call the recognition of a pigmented lesion that looks different from other surrounding skin lesions “the ugly duckling sign.”
Skin Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
Our melanoma specialists examine you for moles and other suspicious spots in a thorough evaluation with a whole-body skin exam. We can confirm a diagnosis with a skin biopsy (small tissue sample), and you may need other tests. Read about our process for melanoma diagnosis and second opinions.
Your care team works together to tailor your treatment plan, which may include more than one treatment. Surgery is often the first treatment for melanoma, especially in its early stages. Our team works with surgeons in the Penn Dermatology Oncology Center to coordinate your care.
Other Types of Skin Cancer We Treat
Our specialist team also diagnoses and treats people with common skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Other, rarer types of skin cancer we treat include:
- Apocrine carcinoma: Cancer that develops in a sweat gland
- Cutaneous leiomyosarcoma: Cancer that grows in the middle layer of skin (the dermis) or deepest (subcutaneous) layer
- Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: Cancer that forms in connective tissue cells in the dermis
- Merkel cell carcinoma: Cancer that develops near nerve endings in the top layer of skin (the epidermis)
- Microcystic adnexal carcinoma: Cancer that tends to grow in sweat glands in the head or neck
- Sebaceous carcinoma: Cancer that begins in oil glands in the skin
Request an Appointment
Call 800-789-7366 to schedule an appointment with one of our melanoma experts. You can also request an appointment using our online form.