Small, but irregular, black and brown pigment is a sign of a melanoma, a serious skin cancer. Any new pigmented, itching, bleeding, or changing moles should be checked by your doctor. This melanoma has a classic blue-black color. Black, multi-colored, asymmetric, or irregularly shaped lesions all need to be checked by a dermatologist or doctor skilled in looking at moles. This image displays a multi-colored (including black) lesion with an irregular shape and scalloped borders typical of melanoma. This image displays a brown, blue-gray, and pink lesion with an irregular border typical of early melanoma. This melanoma started as a flat, irregular dark spot but has developed a raised, crusted area. This image displays a melanoma with a white and pink center, a darker black-brown area, and pink and brown c-shaped tumor on the left side of the lesion. This image displays a round, bleeding melanoma that has a small "satellite" tumor underneath it. This image displays a melanoma with irregular borders surrounded by many other benign growths, which are much smaller and have regular, circular borders. This image displays a darkly pigmented lesion typical of melanoma. This image displays an almost black melanoma found in between the toes. This melanoma has multiple dark colors, an asymmetrical shape, and a very irregular border typical of melanoma. This image displays a lesion with an irregular edge and multiple colors--white, pink, pink-brown, and flecks of blue-black--typical of melanoma. When a melanoma involves the fingernail, the cuticle often has the discoloration as well as the nail plate.
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Melanoma  Information for adults

Picture of Melanoma: Small, but irregular, black and brown pigment is a sign of a melanoma, a serious skin cancer. Any new pigmented, itching, bleeding, or changing moles should be checked by your doctor. Divider line
Small, but irregular, black and brown pigment is a sign of a melanoma, a serious skin cancer. Any new pigmented, itching, bleeding, or changing moles should be checked by your doctor.
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Signs and Symptoms
Melanoma usually occurs on areas of the skin that are exposed to the sun, but it may be found anywhere on the body, including the eye, mouth, and genital area.
  • Men are most likely to develop melanoma on the head, neck, and trunk.
  • Women are most likely to develop melanoma on the legs and arms.
A helpful tool to help you identify a mole that may be melanoma is the ABCDE checklist:
  • A – Asymmetry: One half of the mole does not look like the other half.
  • B – Border: The outline of the mole is irregular.
  • C – Color: More than one color can be seen, such as brown, black, red, blue, and white.
  • D – Diameter: A mole larger than 6 mm (1/4 inch), which is roughly the size of a pencil eraser.
  • E – Evolving: Changes in the mole over time.
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Last Modified: 12 Feb 2009
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