That’s why it’s important to know your skin and regularly check for any changes in moles, freckles, or other skin marks, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Other signs of melanoma you should watch for include:

• A bump or nodule that's scaly, lumpy, crusty, oozing, or bleeding
• Pain, itchiness, tenderness, or changes in how a mole feels
• Swelling, redness, or spread of color into the skin near a mole
• Part of a mole’s colored area that used to be flat starts to rise

Other signs of skin cancer include:

• Flat, firm areas that look a lot like a scar
• Rough or scaly red patches that might itch
• Raised growths or bumps that might be pink, red, or pearly looking
• Wart-like growths on skin that's been exposed to the sun a lot, such as your face, ears, or hands

You can remember signs of melanoma using the ABCDE rule:

• Asymmetry. One half of a mole looks different than the other.
• Border. The edges are irregular.
• Color. The color of the mole varies. It may include blue, black, brown, red, white, or pink areas.
• Diameter. The spot is larger than 6 millimeters, or the size of a pencil eraser. But some may be smaller.
• Evolving. The mole is changing. It may change in size, shape, or color.

See a healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms, the ACS says.