Does your mole keep catching your eye? I'm a dermatologist and this is the most commonly overlooked melanoma warning sign

A dermatologist has warned that one of the most important signs of skin cancer can be surprisingly easy to dismiss, after diagnosing a young woman with melanoma despite her suspicious spot appearing harmless.

Dr Sam Ellis, a dermatologist, said the woman's melanoma did not resemble the large, dark, irregular moles many people have been taught to associate with skin cancer.

Instead, the spot repeatedly caught her attention, even though there was nothing particularly alarming about its appearance.

'I have one surgery left of the day to excise a melanoma on a young woman,' Dr Ellis explained.

'This melanoma did not look particularly threatening. It wasn't a classic big brown spot.'

However, the woman's persistent awareness of the spot was enough to raise concerns.

'It was classic in that it kept catching her eye - and to me that is such a hallmark of a badly behaving spot. It's just something you keep noticing.'

The dermatologist explained that people are often familiar with the appearance of their own skin and may recognise when something looks unusual, even if they cannot identify exactly what has changed.

Dermatologist Dr Sam Ellis has warned that one of the most important signs of skin cancer can be surprisingly easy to dismiss

'We're very in tune with our bodies and we know when something is a little bit off,' she said.

When Dr Ellis examined the woman, she immediately suspected the spot warranted further investigation.

'When I saw it, I thought immediately that it needed to come off. It wasn't threatening but it was odd enough, and combined with the fact that she kept noticing it, we removed it.'

The decision proved significant when testing confirmed the spot was melanoma, a potentially deadly form of skin cancer.

Dr Ellis explained that the diagnosis meant the woman would need another procedure to remove the melanoma completely.

'Once we had the diagnosis that it was melanoma, we would cut it out completely,' she said.

The dermatologist said cases like this were among the most rewarding parts of her profession because skin cancers could sometimes be diagnosed and treated within a matter of weeks.

'One of the coolest things about being a dermatologist is that I can diagnose and cure someone's skin cancer in a two-week span,' she said.

An Australian woman has issued a warning to others to get their skin checked after an 'innocent-looking' mark on her leg (pictured) turned out to be melanoma when she was just 27

Her experience serves as a reminder that melanoma does not always present as an obviously dark or threatening-looking mole.

An Australian woman recently issued a warning to others to get their skin checked after an 'innocent-looking' mark on her leg turned out to be melanoma when she was just 27.

Now 31, she shared a photograph of the seemingly unremarkable spot as Australia heads into the warmer months, revealing she initially struggled to convince doctors that something wasn't right.

At first glance, the small brown mark looked similar to an ordinary freckle or mole.

But despite its innocent appearance, she couldn't shake the feeling that it needed investigating.

'I had to advocate for myself and see a few GPs before someone took it out and it came back as a melanoma in situ (thankfully),' she explained on Reddit.

Melanoma in situ is the earliest stage of melanoma, when abnormal cells remain confined to the outermost layer of the skin and have not invaded deeper tissue.

Thankfully, the woman said she has remained well in the four years since her diagnosis and has not experienced a recurrence.

How to spot a suspicious mole 

The ABCDE rule can help identify changes that should be checked by a doctor:

A - Asymmetry: One half of the spot looks different from the other.

B - Border: Look for irregular, blurred, uneven or poorly defined edges.

C - Colour: Be aware of spots containing different shades or changing colour.

D - Diameter: Pay attention to spots that are growing or unusually large — although melanomas can also be small.

E - Evolving: Any mole or spot that changes in size, shape, colour or appearance should be assessed.

Also watch for new spots, or anything that looks noticeably different from your other moles.

Melanoma can occur at any age and can develop on parts of the body that aren't regularly exposed to the sun.

If you notice a new or changing spot, or feel something isn't right, see a doctor.

Source: Cancer Council Australia

'Don't think it won't happen to you. Don't think you're too young. Don't think that freckle or mole is probably fine if you are worried about it. Just go and get it checked.'

She now undergoes skin checks with a dermatologist every six months and shares her story annually as a reminder to others.

According to Cancer Council Australia, people should regularly examine their skin for new or changing spots, paying particular attention to anything that looks different from their other moles.

Cancer Council advises watching for moles that become raised, develop a lump, or change in texture, including becoming rough, scaly, or ulcerated.Itching, tingling, bleeding, and weeping can also indicate that a spot needs medical attention.

A new mole or a mark that looks noticeably different from surrounding spots should also be checked.

Importantly, the absence of the classic ABCDE characteristics does not necessarily mean a spot is harmless.

Dr Ellis's account highlights why changes that seem minor, or a spot that repeatedly draws someone's attention, should not automatically be dismissed.

Anyone who notices a new, changing, or unusual spot should arrange an examination with a GP or dermatologist rather than waiting for more obvious symptoms to develop.

Early detection is particularly important with melanoma, as treatment is generally more successful when the cancer is identified before it spreads.