Should I worry about melanoma (pic)

[MelanomaWorries]

The last few months I have noticed a darker spot on my nose. I've occasionally casually googled melanoma and seen dark moles and thought nothing more. I used to get big spots on my nose when I was younger which I'd attack with my nails and thought it was probably a scar that was getting more visible as I got older.

But it's definitely getting more prominent so I googled some more and there is one type of melanoma that doesn't have the darker pigmentation and I'm now so worried that's what I have. I will call the GP on Monday but any wisdom in the meantime?

I'm petrified, especially as I read its very aggressive and can spread in just a few weeks, considering I noticed it months ago it would be bad :(.

Your photo is really blurry but it might be melasma- which is a benign sun damage spot. These are flat, not raised dark spots.
www.bad.org.uk/pils/melasma/
dermnetnz.org/topics/melasma (Has photos)

It doesn't seem to have any of the features that the doctor's office always posts to look out for but do get it checked out. It's the only way to be sure and properly reassured.

It's worth getting an annual skin check so they can keep an eye on any spots. If you are worried, go and check it now.

Thank you I get anxious and had a real freak out moment. I will definitely get it checked but in the meantime will remind myself it doesn't meet any of the usual signs to look out for so hopefully it's OK.

Melasma is possible, it is flat, not raised, in fact its ever so slightly sunk, which is why I had come up with the spot scar theory in the first place. But I'm not sure why it seems to be getting bigger/darker.

DH has loads of moles and gets a yearly check. I should start too.

As it isn’t flat but sunken, yes go get it checked out. It could be the initial beginnings of a SCC (squamous cell carcinoma)- which is skin cancer but not an aggressive one. As I said, your photo is super blurry so going off your written description. I had SCC on the tops of my ears and they were cryogenically removed.

Def get it checked to reassure you but I don’t think it looks worrying and I say that as someone who majorly freaks out about these things!

My husband had something like this. He was told it was a sun spot TWICE. Turned out it was early skin cancer but it was cured with cream once it had grown bigger and he really wouldn't take being told to go away again.

Go to the doctor op but the very good news is that it's very likely treatable with cream.

He was then told to wear factor 50 sun cream every day.

Getting it checked sounds sensible OP. Can I ask where your husband goes for annual check - GP or private? We should really do this too.

@namechangeagaintoday oh gosh I will definitely get medical advice then, but I am glad your DH was OK. How long did he have it for before someone took it seriously?

@ModeWeasel the mole clinic in London, private I am afraid

@namechangeagaintoday sorry one more question- was it just the GP who eventually referred? I really think the GP will send me away, so happy to go private directly somewhere but not sure where!

Just see your GP.. honestly it just looks like a freckle to me.. and yes you gain more as you get older, but GPs don't mind you getting skin stuff checked.
My own experience.. had something come up on my face that grew and changed rather rapidly.. GP referred to the skin clinic, and somewhat to my shock they confirmed it DID need to come off asap, and did it there and then.. needed a couple of stitches as they excised for a biopsy... job done and luckily no further treatment needed (it was a keratoacanthoma..related to BCC). Strict warnings to wear sun cream from then on.

Since then I've had a few dodgy moles checked and so far so good!

@MelanomaWorries the GP did eventually take it seriously and referred him - 8 months after his first appointment there (it continued getting darker during this time). The good news here though is that even 8 months in, it was treatable. His was on the side of his nose.

I hope you didn't mind me posting. I absolutely didn't want to panic you but I also thought it's good to know you should get it checked rather than only hearing from people trying to reassure you so much you might not seek medical advice.

If your husband already goes private, see if you can go there.

Are you pregnant or on the combined pill? Both can cause pigmentation changes like this! But do go and see your GP as whilst it doesn’t look concerning, I suspect you’ll be worrying about it until you know for sure

Not at all @namechangeagaintoday on the contrary I really appreciate your post and it is ultimately reassuring.

I am determined to get it checked but honestly don't know how. DH said the mole clinic was good but the main point of it is that they monitor for changes over time. The checks were done by a nurse and they are obviously trained to pick up on any red flags, but as this technically isn't even a mole I'm not sure they'd even include that in the mole check. Or am I overthinking it? It is 175 pounds which my eyes water so want to make sure I'd get proper answers for that price.

I feel like a specialist or dermatologist needs to look at it, maybe booking one privately is a better bet?

@WetBandits I gave birth a year ago and have been noticing it on and off since I think, but I do think it is still changing/getting subtly more visible.

Ah ok well in that case, use Bupa internet pages to look for a dermatologist and ring their secretary and book direct.

I've done this in the past.