Reviewed by Nick Blackmer
To take the key
Amelanotic melanoma is difficult to recognize because it is usually the same color as your skin. It can be red, pink or purple.
The misdiagnosis rate is high because melanotic melanoma often mimics other skin lesions.
Early detection is important, which is why dermatologists recommend regular skin self-exams to detect any changes in your body.
Melanoma, a common type of skin cancer, can grow into an existing mole, but it can also look like your skin tone.
Amelanotic melanoma is a rare type of melanoma that is colorless or turns red, pink, or purple. This is due to a lack of melanin, the pigment that makes most melanomas appear dark.
It can be confused with other skin lesions with similar characteristics, such as pimples, benign moles, cysts, warts, or scars. Because amelanotic melanoma can mimic other skin markers, the misdiagnosis rate can be as high as 89%.
Amelanotic melanoma isn't diagnosed until later because it's harder to detect, says Elizabeth Berry, MD, assistant professor of dermatology at Oregon Health & Science University.
Early diagnosis is important for improving prognosis, so learning to recognize colorless melanoma can help you spot any unusual changes in your skin.
ABCDE rules for skin cancer
The ABCDE rules are a useful guide to help you recognize and remember the first signs of skin cancer: asymmetry, irregular edges, color variations, around 6mm in diameter, and evolution.
Related: Free Skin Cancer Screening Information
How do you see amelanotic melanoma?
Dr. Jennifer N. Choi, a dermatologist at Northwestern Medicine, told Verywell that people usually know they have melanotic melanoma when they experience symptoms such as bleeding, itching, or persistent growths of warts or cysts that don't heal. . Sometimes a dermatologist can detect suspicious features during a full body exam.
Amelanotic melanoma usually requires medical evaluation when it is symptomatic, says Choi. This does not mean that it has spread to this point, but the Breslow depth, the depth of the melanoma as measured under a microscope, may be further or deeper at diagnosis because of melanoma latency.
Related: Breslow melanoma thickness
Amelanotic melanoma can occur anywhere on the body. The areas that get the most sun are the areas that get the most sun, such as the head and neck, back, and lower legs. But like pigmented melanoma, says Choi, melanotic melanoma can also appear in unusual places, such as the lower legs.
Susan Massick, MD, a dermatologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, tells Verywell that monthly self-exams can help alert you to unusual changes. Be sure to look for new lesions, growing, bleeding, ulcers, and often crusted, scaly, or itchy.
About half of melanomas are self-diagnosed, so if you find any lesions, check with a dermatologist. Self-examination is important, but don't over-diagnose or ignore changing changes, says Masick.
Elizabeth Berry, Executive Director
See a doctor for fast-growing, painful, or bleeding spots.
Although amelanotic melanomas don't usually meet the typical ABCDE criteria, they are "the ugly duckling," meaning they don't have any other growths on a person's skin, says Berry.
"I tell my patients that if a pink rash appears and after four to six weeks a simple rash or bug bite is not healing well, they should take the rash or rash to a medical professional," says Berry.
The ugly duckling is drawing
The ugly duckling sign is another early recognition strategy besides the ABCDEs. Most moles on your body can look similar, while melanoma is prominent. It has been reported as an effective marker for detecting melanoma in various skill groups, both expert and non-clinical.
For injuries, see a doctor
In addition to self-examination, you can also carry out regular full-body skin examinations or request remote medical services. For example, Oregon Health & Science University offers a virtual colon cancer skin exam where patients can submit a photo of a mole or two and receive a medical consultation.
In the United States, there is a 99% survival rate for melanoma patients who are detected early, so the abnormal skin growth is worth investigating.
The thickness and depth of a melanoma determines its aggressiveness at diagnosis, the best treatment, and the clinical and prognostic outcomes that can be expected, says Masick. Treatment for amelanotic melanoma is similar to treatment for pigmented melanoma.
Berry advises individuals to "seek immediate medical attention for areas that grow quickly, become painful, or start to bleed."
What does this mean for you?
Dermatologists recommend regular skin self-exams to detect any changes in your body. If you find new, growing, bleeding, or scaly lesions, see a dermatologist. Amelanotic melanoma is more difficult to detect, so pay attention to your body and don't ignore the progress of the lesion.