The most severe form of skin cancer.

Overview: Superficial spreading melanoma appears like a black or dark brown mark, which spreads from a new or an existing mole. It is generally in the skin areas that are exposed to UV rays, particularly in regions with a previous sunburn. As the most common type, it makes up for 70% of all melanomas.

Appearance: Typically, these lesions are over 6 mm and often 10+ mm in diameter. They will be irregular, asymmetric, raised, and multicoloured. They are often found on the torso of males and the legs of females, as well as the upper back of both sexes.

Dermoscopy Features: Chaotic in appearance, with more than one pattern and/or more than one colour arranged asymmetrically. They are often multicoloured. They can be blue or grey structures, lines radial, or pseudopods segmental, peripheral black dots or clouds, white lines, and polymorphous vessels.

Overview: Lentigo maligna melanoma looks like a dark mark with an irregular border and uneven colour. It might initially appear like an irregular, large freckle, and is often found on the arms or face of older and middle-aged people.

Appearance: These lesions are often large, over 6 mm in size, have an irregular shape and a smooth surface. They have variable pigmentation, light brown, dark brown, pink, red, or white. Lesions will increase in size over several years. Ulceration, bleeding, itching, or stinging can occur. Thus, increasing numbers of colours and thickening part of the lesion.

Dermoscopy Features: Circles can appear brown or grey, multicoloured, light brown to black, and pigmented.

Overview: Nodular melanoma looks like a domed, rigid bump, and it is black or dark brown in colour. Nodular melanoma can spread rapidly from the epidermis to the dermis. Once it reaches the dermis, it can spread further to other parts of the body. It contributes to 10% of all melanomas.

Appearance: These lesions present as a nodule or papule and may be symmetrical in all directions. The nodules can have a variety of skin colours, tan, blue, or red. Their surface may be smooth, rough, crusty, or warty. The tissue can be very fragile and bleed on contact, or it can also be asymptomatic. It may appear on any site, but most commonly occur on exposed areas of the head and neck.

Dermoscopy Features: Multicoloured and chaotic in appearance, with more than one pattern or more than one colour arranged asymmetrically. Some dermoscopy clues to this type of lesion include grey and blue structures, polarizing specific white lines and polymorphic vessels.

Overview: Desmoplastic melanoma is a rare type of melanoma. It occurs in sun-damaged parts of the skin, usually in older people. It appears like a slow-growing irregular or round lump. It is often scar-like and rigid with uneven colouration.

Appearance: These lesions can vary in size from medium to large, and appear as a raised indurated papule, nodule or plaque. The border is large and poorly demarcated, and lesions are skin coloured to pink. Symptoms can include ulceration, bleeding, itching, or stinging.

Dermoscopy Features: Structureless area (scar like) with grey dots. Appears brown, tan, white, and milky red. Some dermoscopy clues to this type of lesion include regression structures, with scar-like appearance. Polarized dermoscopy reveals white lines. Vascular structures, including serpentine vessels, dotted vessels and or milky red areas.

Overview: Acral lentiginous melanoma usually appears like a bruise or dark mark that doesn’t heal. It can occur anywhere, including the soles of the feet and palms of the hands. Under the nails, this type of melanoma might appear like a dark stripe. It is quite uncommon.

Appearance: Size varies, depending on when diagnosis is made. It can vary from a few millimetres to several centimetres. Appears as a patch or macule that is initially difficult to recognize, but later becomes irregular in shape and colour. Mixture of brown, blue-grey and red colours. Typically appear on palms, soles, fingers, and toes.

Dermoscopy Features: Parallel ridge pattern with chaotic, multicoloured appearance. Some dermoscopy clues to this type of lesion include grey and blue structures, lines parallel, ridges or chaotic, black dots, or clods peripheral.

Overview: Subungual melanoma is also a rare form of melanoma, it develops under the nails of the fingers or toes. It usually occurs in individuals with darker skin tone. Often mistaken as a bruise, it is black or brown in appearance.

Appearance: Typical size is over 3mm new or changing band. Parallel pattern of lines, varying colours, brown, grey, yellow, or black. They either have no surface features, or have nail plate splitting or roughness, unless advanced with nodular lesion palpable. Can appear on any finger or toenail. Typically, asymptomatic, but can progress, ulcerate or bleed, or severe pain with bone involvement.

Dermoscopy Features: Chaotic, parallel lines with grey and black.

Overview: uveal melanoma is a type of eye cancer that involves the choroid, ciliary body, and iris. The tumour develops from the melanocytes lying within the uveal region.