Melanoma

Several factors can increase your risk, including:

• Age and location (adults over age 50 and people who live in sunny or high-altitude areas)
• A history of bad sunburns (especially as a child)
• Having a family history of melanoma
• Having a weak immune system
• Having lots of moles
• People with fair skin (light skin, freckles, blonde or red hair, and light-colored eyes)
• Too much sun or tanning bed use

To help prevent melanoma, limit sun exposure, wear sunscreen, and check your skin regularly. If you have risk factors, talk to your doctor about skin exams.

Melanomas can look different from one another, so it’s important to check your skin often and watch for new or changing moles. Signs of melanoma include asymmetry, irregular borders, color changes, size increases, or sores that won’t heal.

Self-examination
Regularly check your skin for new or changing moles, spots, or unusual growths. Look for asymmetry, irregular borders, color changes, or size increases.

Professional examination
We recommend a skin examination by a dermatologist every three years for people between 20 and 40 and every year for those over the age of 40.

Early detection is key to preventing skin cancer. If you notice any concerning changes, contact your primary care doctor or a dermatologist.

At Corewell Health, we can act quickly and give you a clear diagnosis.

Clinical examination

Dermatologists use specialized tools to examine suspicious skin changes. Routine professional skin exams are key for early melanoma detection and diagnosis.

Excisional biopsy

This procedure removes the whole suspicious area for analysis.

Incisional biopsy

Used for larger lesions, this procedure removes only a portion of the suspicious area for analysis.

Punch biopsy

A circular tool is used to extract a small, deep sample of skin, including all layers, to check for cancerous cells.

We offer expert melanoma treatment with a team guiding you from diagnosis to recovery. Most often, you will be able to meet with a surgeon to go over treatment options. Depending on the cancer stage, your choices are reviewed by a team of specialists on our Skin Cancer Tumor Board. Your personalized treatment plan depends on your overall health, cancer stage, and whether it has spread.