Types of melanoma skin cancer
Melanoma can develop in different ways, depending on where it starts and how it grows.
- Superficial spreading melanoma: This is the most common type. These cancerous moles typically occur on sun-exposed skin and begin as a flat, irregularly black, blue, or pink area that slowly spreads outward.
- Nodular melanoma: Characterized by a rapidly growing, dome-shaped nodule, this type may be black, blue, or red. It tends to grow down into the skin and can be more aggressive than other types.
- Lentigo maligna melanoma: This type usually develops on sun-damaged skin, like the face, ears, or arms, often in older adults. It starts as a flat tan or brown patch that grows slowly over time.
- Acral lentiginous melanoma: This rare type develops on hairless skin, like the palms, soles, or under the nails. It often appears as a dark spot or streak and is more common in people with darker skin tones.
- Desmoplastic melanoma: Often found in the head and neck area, this type can develop anywhere and may look similar to normal skin.
- Amelanotic melanoma: This type lacks pigment, so it may appear pink, red, or skin-colored. It can be harder to recognize because it doesn’t look like a typical dark mole.
Our team also diagnoses and treats common skin cancers like basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Other, rarer types 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