What Is Melanoma (Skin Cancer)?

Here’s a myth worth retiring straight away: “it’s just a mole I’ve always had, so it can’t be anything.” Most melanomas don’t announce themselves with pain, and a spot you’ve lived with for years can still change. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that starts in the pigment-making cells of the skin. The short video above — just over three minutes on the early warning signs — puts it plainly alongside the other main skin cancers, basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma, and explains why melanoma is the one doctors take most seriously: left alone, it can spread beyond the skin.

Myth: a dangerous spot will hurt or itch

Often, it won’t — at least not at first. What clinicians look for instead is change. A new spot, or an old one that’s growing, changing shape or colour, developing an uneven edge, or simply looking different from all your others is worth getting checked. You don’t need to diagnose it yourself, and you really shouldn’t try. Your job is just to notice the change and book the appointment; sorting out what it is belongs to the clinician who examines it.

Fact: the check itself is straightforward

At the appointment, the doctor will look closely at the spot, often with a small handheld magnifier with a light — a dermatoscope — pressed gently against the skin. That magnified view helps them judge whether the spot can simply be watched or needs removing for testing. If it does need testing, the usual step is to remove it (sometimes with a small margin of surrounding skin) and send the tissue to a laboratory. That laboratory examination is what confirms or rules out melanoma; if you’d like the general picture of how tissue samples are examined, our guide to biopsies and how results are read is a useful companion read.

Myth: once it’s removed, that’s always the end of it

For a melanoma caught early and removed completely, surgery may indeed be the main treatment — and that is exactly why early checks matter so much. When a melanoma is thicker or there’s a question about spread, the team may look at the nearest lymph nodes as well. A shorter surgical video on this site, “Wide exision of a Melanoma”, shows the removal side of that care — the lesion taken out with a margin of surrounding skin. Follow-up appointments after treatment are part of the plan too, not an optional extra — they let the team watch the scar, check your other moles, and spot anything new early. A changing patch isn’t always cancer, of course; plenty of skin changes turn out to be long-term conditions such as psoriasis, which is another reason a proper examination beats guessing.

Fact: you can lower the odds, and catch changes sooner

You can’t control your skin type or the moles you were born with, but you can be sensible in the sun — shade, clothing and sunscreen when the sun is strong, and no deliberate tanning. Just as usefully, get to know your own skin. A quick look every so often, including your back and the backs of your legs (a mirror or a partner helps), makes “something’s changed” much easier to spot. And if you do notice a change? Don’t watch it for months to see what happens. A short appointment is a small price for either peace of mind or treatment at its simplest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is melanoma the only type of skin cancer?

No. The other main types are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Melanoma is less common than those but is taken especially seriously because it is more likely to spread if it isn’t treated early.

What changes in a mole should I get checked?

Growth, a change in shape, colour or edge, a new spot that looks different from your others, or a spot that crusts, bleeds or doesn’t heal. Any change like that deserves an appointment rather than watchful waiting at home.

Does checking a mole hurt?

Looking at it doesn’t — the examination, including the handheld magnifier, is painless. If the spot needs removing for testing, the area is numbed first, so you should feel pressure rather than pain.

Can melanoma be cured?

Melanoma removed early, before it has spread, can often be treated with surgery alone, which is why early checks matter. Melanoma that has spread needs more treatment, planned by a specialist team for your individual case.

Who should take extra care in the sun?

Everyone benefits from sun sense, but take particular care if you have fair skin that burns easily, lots of moles, or a close family member who has had melanoma — and mention those things when you see your doctor.

MedicalVideos.com has published trusted medical videos since 2007. The site was founded by Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim, MD, PhD — physician-scientist.

Educational only — this article is general information about melanoma, not medical advice and not a diagnosis. If you notice a changing or new skin spot, see a clinician promptly for an in-person examination.