Melanoma Overview

Only 20-30% of melanomas are found in existing moles. While 70-80% arise on normal-looking skin.

Only 20-30% of melanomas are found in existing moles. While 70-80% arise on normal-looking skin.

What is a melanocyte?

Melanocytes are skin cells found in the upper layer of skin. They produce a pigment known as melanin, which gives skin its color. There are two types of melanin: eumelanin and pheomelanin. When skin is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds, it causes skin damage that triggers the melanocytes to produce more melanin, but only the eumelanin pigment attempts to protect the skin by causing the skin to darken or tan. Melanoma occurs when DNA damage from burning or tanning due to UV radiation triggers changes (mutations) in the melanocytes, resulting in uncontrolled cellular growth.

What does melanoma look like?

Melanomas present in many different shapes, sizes and colors. That's why it's tricky to provide a comprehensive set of warning signs. Since detecting melanoma early is so vital, we've provided common signs, symptoms, images and early detection strategies on our Melanoma Warning Signs page.

How dangerous is melanoma?

Melanoma is usually curable when detected and treated early. Once melanoma has spread deeper into the skin or other parts of the body, it becomes more difficult to treat and can be deadly.

• The estimated five-year survival rate for U.S. patients whose melanoma is detected early is about 99 percent.
• An estimated 7,180 people (4,600 men and 2,580 women) will die of melanoma in the U.S. in 2021.

What are the four main types of melanoma of the skin?

Superficial spreading melanoma

What you should know: This is the most common form of melanoma.

How and where it grows: It can arise in an existing mole or appear as a new lesion. When it begins in a mole that is already on the skin, it tends to grow on the surface of the skin for some time before penetrating more deeply. While it can be found nearly anywhere on the body, it is most likely to appear on the torso in men, the legs in women and the upper back in both.

What it looks like: It may appear as a flat or slightly raised and discolored, asymmetrical patch with uneven borders. Colors include shades of tan, brown, black, red/pink, blue or white. It can also lack pigment and appear as a pink or skin-tone lesion (amelanotic).

Lentigo maligna

What you should know: This form of melanoma often develops in older people. When this cancer becomes invasive or spreads beyond the original site, the disease is known as lentigo maligna melanoma. How and where it grows: This form of melanoma is similar to the superficial spreading type, growing close to the skin surface at first. The tumor typically arises on sun-damaged skin on the face, ears, arms or upper torso. What it looks like: It may look like a flat or slightly raised, blotchy patch with uneven borders. Color is usually blue-black, but can vary from tan to brown or dark brown.

Acral lentiginous melanoma

What you should know: This is the most common form of melanoma found in people of color, including individuals of African ancestry. How and where it grows: It often appears in hard-to-spot places including under the nails and on the soles of the feet or palms of the hands. What it looks like: It may appear as a black or brown area.

Musician Bob Marley was diagnosed with acral lentiginous melanoma, which ultimately claimed his life at age 36. When a dark spot appeared under his toenail, Marley attributed it to a soccer injury. Eventually he was diagnosed with the disease but was not treated. His melanoma spread to other areas of his body and tragically cut his life short.

Nodular melanoma

What you should know: This is the most aggressive type of melanoma. It accounts for 10 to 15 percent of all cases. How and where it grows: The tumor grows deeper into the skin more rapidly than other types and is most frequently found on the torso, legs and arms, as well as the scalp in older men. It is usually invasive at the time it is first diagnosed. What it looks like: Nodular melanoma is often recognized as a bump on the skin, usually blue-black in color, but not uncommonly can also appear as a pink to red bump.

Reviewed by: Ofer Reiter, MD