Skin Cancer Signs: What to Look For on Your Body

The most common warning signs include a mole that changes in size, shape, or color. A new growth that appears after age 30. A spot that looks different from all your other spots. A sore that does not heal within 3 weeks. A bump that is pearly, translucent, or waxy. A flat, scaly red patch that persists. A firm, flesh-colored bump. A spot that bleeds, crusts, or itches repeatedly.

The key principle: anything new, changing, or unusual on your skin deserves professional evaluation.

Melanoma spots are typically asymmetric, have irregular borders, contain multiple colors (brown, black, red, white, or blue), are larger than 6mm, and are evolving. But small melanomas exist too.

Basal cell carcinoma spots often appear as a pearly or waxy bump, a flat flesh-colored or brown scar-like lesion, or a bleeding scabbing sore that heals and returns.

Squamous cell carcinoma spots usually present as a firm red nodule or a flat lesion with a scaly crusted surface.

Not all skin cancers are flat. Basal cell carcinoma frequently appears as a pearly bump with visible tiny blood vessels. Merkel cell carcinoma presents as a firm, painless, fast-growing bump. Squamous cell carcinoma can form a firm red nodule that bleeds easily.

Most bumps on the skin are benign (cysts, lipomas, dermatofibromas, skin tags). But any new bump that grows rapidly, bleeds without trauma, or does not resolve in a few weeks should be checked.

Early stage skin cancer is often subtle. It may look like a small pimple that will not go away, a tiny pearly bump, a slightly scaly patch, or a minor change in an existing mole. Early melanoma can be as small as 2-3mm.

The key is change over time. A pimple resolves in days to weeks. A skin cancer persists and slowly grows. If something has been there for more than 3-4 weeks and is not improving, get it checked.

Normal moles are usually round or oval, have a smooth border, are one uniform color, are smaller than 6mm, and remain stable over time. Cancerous moles (melanoma) break one or more of these rules.

Use the ABCDE rule to evaluate any mole: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter over 6mm, Evolution (change). If a mole fails on any of these criteria - especially Evolution - see a dermatologist.

Some skin cancers mimic rashes. Bowen's disease looks like a persistent red, scaly patch - often mistaken for eczema or psoriasis. Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma starts as persistent scaly patches that do not respond to moisturizers or topical steroids.

Red flag: any rash that persists for months, does not respond to treatment, or slowly grows should be biopsied.

Do not wait if you notice a mole changing rapidly, any spot that bleeds spontaneously, a dark streak under a fingernail or toenail, a sore that will not heal after 3 weeks, or a new firm bump that is growing quickly. Melanoma can progress from curable to dangerous in months.