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Does this look like skin cancer

13 replies

radioX · 02/06/2026 08:22

Had this mark on my leg my whole life, but recently it’s changed and is now always dry even though the rest of my leg isn’t. It’s also raised now aswell. I have contacted the gp but not seeing them until next week. It becomes really dry, I scratch the dryness away but then it’s just dry again, I do have anxiety so I’m struggling with this. I

Does this look like skin cancer
Does this look like skin cancer
OP posts:
2dogsandabudgie · 02/06/2026 08:27

I don't think anyone on here will be able to give you a definite answer just by looking at a photo. Have you posted similar threads before?

radioX · 02/06/2026 08:30

2dogsandabudgie · 02/06/2026 08:27

I don't think anyone on here will be able to give you a definite answer just by looking at a photo. Have you posted similar threads before?

No I haven’t

OP posts:
MeetMeOnTheCorner · 02/06/2026 08:32

See a doctor.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

GloiredeDijon · 02/06/2026 08:34

It looks like a dermatofibroma to me. Which is absolutely fine.
But you should definitely get it checked just in case. I speak as a retired nurse and as someone with melanoma.

Randoj · 02/06/2026 08:39

No one can (or should) guess based off a picture, I know what’s probably not what you want to hear but people posting either way would be misleading in either direction, as even derms cant always say which way they will think based off a picture. As someone with anxiety who has also had skin cancer, I’d urge you not to go down a Google hole, it will just make you needlessly anxious, wait until the GP appointment, a week is an okay wait for this and see what they say.

NotSure222 · 02/06/2026 08:56

Growing up in Australia we see lots of photos of skin cancers - I would not have looked at that and thought skin cancer. It looks too even ie circle-like. I suspect more that you scratching it has triggered an auto immune response and created excess scar tissue (I have a flea bite on my arm which did a similar thing).

I say that only to give you some comfort but as others have said, you are best getting medical advice and since you are seeing a doctor next week, just go to that and try and ignore your anxiety in the meantime. Your anxiety is just trying to keep you safe but it’s in overdrive. While I don’t think it’s skin cancer, even worse case scenario if it was, one week is neither here nor there.

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/skin-cancer/symptoms/photos

.

Photos of skin cancer

See what different types of skin cancers might look like.

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/skin-cancer/symptoms/photos

BlakeTheBlackBird · 02/06/2026 08:59

I have 2 exactly the same. They are harmless dermatofibroma that sometimes get dry in hotter weather

tiramisugelato · 02/06/2026 08:59

No, it looks like a dermatofibroma - I had one removed 18 months ago as it kept catching on my bra. My GP wasn’t worried but sent it to be tested anyway as per their rules and it was fine.

Megifer · 02/06/2026 09:03

Agree with pp's re dermatofibroma. I have one on my eyebrow that I thought was BCC (even though I've had it for as long as i can remember, just got "it must be BCC" into my head one day)

Get it checked for reassurance if nothing else 😊

mindutopia · 02/06/2026 09:45

You’re doing the right thing getting it checked. I would say, yes, it does look like what my melanoma looked like. BUT mine came out of nowhere and grew quickly. The fact you’ve had it your whole life is a good sign is something innocuous. It may have just become dry and itchy in the hot weather.

If they do say it’s nothing, but continues to change and bother you, do not take no for an answer. Go back again and see a different GP. I was fobbed off the first time because not all melanoma looks like the classic dark uneven mole. Mine progressed a lot in the time when I thought it was fine because the GP said so, even though it was growing and changing.

Sartre · 02/06/2026 10:08

I had one too on my thigh. Doctor said it was nothing, it was indeed nothing. It disappeared but I still have the red mark.

LizardyGuts · 02/06/2026 10:09

Thank you PPs! I had one of these appear about ten years ago and always wondered what it was. A dermatofibroma!

OP, that looks exactly like the thing I've had for ten years so it's likely harmless, but NHS advice is to check it out so it's good you are getting an appointment. A week is pretty quick for a non-urgent thing like this.

radioX · 02/06/2026 10:29

mindutopia · 02/06/2026 09:45

You’re doing the right thing getting it checked. I would say, yes, it does look like what my melanoma looked like. BUT mine came out of nowhere and grew quickly. The fact you’ve had it your whole life is a good sign is something innocuous. It may have just become dry and itchy in the hot weather.

If they do say it’s nothing, but continues to change and bother you, do not take no for an answer. Go back again and see a different GP. I was fobbed off the first time because not all melanoma looks like the classic dark uneven mole. Mine progressed a lot in the time when I thought it was fine because the GP said so, even though it was growing and changing.

Oh god this is worrying. I do think it looks like what other people have said though by looking at images online. I’ve done back through pictures of holidays and I am confident it’s always been there, but it wasn’t as pink looking as it is now, more a browny pink. Can I ask what other signs you had ?

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