What are the symptoms of melanoma?

The most common symptoms of melanoma are: 

• a new spot on the skin, or a spot that is changing in size, shape or colour 
• moles that have features of the ‘ABCDE rule’: 
  • Asymmetry: the 2 sides of the mole do not match 
  • Border irregularity: the mole has irregular edges 
  • Colour: the mole is not the same colour throughout 
  • Diameter: the mole is wider than about 6 mm (although some melanomas are smaller than this) 
  • Evolving: the mole has changed in size, shape, colour or texture during the past few weeks or months 
• a sore that does not heal 
• itching, scaling, bleeding, oozing, swelling or pain, in or around a mole 
• spread of pigment from a spot into the surrounding skin. 

Many conditions can cause these symptoms, not just melanoma. If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor.