If a spot or mole is new, changing, bleeding, itching or looks different from your other spots, see a dermatologist before any laser treatment. Skin cancer, including melanoma, can look like an age spot or a mole. A laser can fade the color doctors use to judge a spot, and fading a skin cancer can give it time to grow. A cosmetic laser practice, including Laser Eraser, is the wrong first stop for a suspicious spot.
Key takeaways
- Melanoma can look like an age spot, a mole, a sore or even a bruise, so a spot you want lasered should be checked first.
- The ABCDEs of melanoma are Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter and Evolving, and any of them is a reason to see a dermatologist.
- A biopsy, examined under a microscope, is the only way to diagnose skin cancer.
- Once a dermatologist has cleared a harmless spot, cosmetic laser treatment becomes a reasonable option to discuss.
Why a skin check comes before laser
You have a brown spot on your cheek or the back of your hand, and you would like it gone. Before anyone points a laser at it, the first question is what it is.
The AAD warns that what looks like an age spot could be skin cancer. If a fading treatment is used on a skin cancer, the AAD says, it can give the cancer time to grow and possibly spread. When caught early, skin cancer is highly treatable. A StatPearls review on laser treatment of pigmented lesions, hosted by the NIH, is just as direct: no lesion that is suspicious for cancer should be treated with laser, partly because once the pigment disappears, a mole becomes harder to follow.
Laser Eraser says the same thing on its own pigment spot removal page: laser is a cosmetic treatment, not a substitute for a skin check, and any spot that is changing, growing, bleeding, itching, or has irregular borders or color should be examined by a dermatologist first. In plain terms, a cosmetic laser practice is the wrong first stop for a suspicious spot.
What to look for: the ABCDEs and other warning signs
Dermatologists created the ABCDEs of melanoma to help people spot warning signs. The AAD advises seeing a dermatologist right away if any mole or pigmented spot shows one of these:
- A is for Asymmetry: one half of the spot is unlike the other half.
- B is for Border: the edge is irregular, scalloped or poorly defined.
- C is for Color: the color varies from one area to the next, such as tan, brown or black, or areas of white, red or blue.
- D is for Diameter: melanomas are usually larger than 6 millimeters, about the size of a pencil eraser, when found, but they can be smaller.
- E is for Evolving: the spot looks different from the rest or is changing in size, shape or color.
- Also watch for: a new spot, a spot that looks different from your others, a spot that itches or bleeds, a sore that does not heal or heals and comes back, or a dark line under a nail.
| What you notice | Go first to | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A new mole or spot, or one that looks different from your others | A dermatologist | New or different spots are on the AAD's list of warning signs |
| A spot that is changing, itching, bleeding or will not heal | A dermatologist, soon | These can be signs of skin cancer |
| A spot with any ABCDE feature | A dermatologist | Skin cancer is highly treatable when caught early |
| A dark line in a nail, or a growing spot on a palm or sole | A dermatologist | In people of African descent, melanoma tends to appear in these places, per the AAD |
| A mole inside a tattoo you want removed | A dermatologist, before laser sessions | Ink can disguise changes, and a biopsy may mean pausing laser |
| A flat brown spot a dermatologist has called harmless | A pigment spot removal consultation | Cosmetic treatment fits once a spot is cleared |
Spots that are easy to mistake for harmless ones
Melanoma does not always look the way people expect. The AAD shows melanomas that look like an age spot, an odd-shaped mole, a sore, a cyst or a bruise on the bottom of the foot. Melanoma often contains shades of brown, black or tan, but some are red or pink.
Where to look matters too. The AAD says that in people of African descent, melanoma tends to develop on the palm, the bottom of the foot, or under or around a nail. A StatPearls review describes lentigo maligna, an early, slow-growing form of melanoma that usually appears on sun-damaged skin of the head and neck in older adults. Because it can look like an ordinary sun spot, it may be misdiagnosed for years.
If you are not sure whether your spot is melasma, a sun spot or a dark mark left after acne, the guide melasma vs. sun spots vs. PIH explains the differences. A spot that does not fit any of those patterns, or that is changing, belongs with a dermatologist.
What happens at a skin check
A dermatologist looks closely at the spot and the skin around it. The AAD explains that if a spot could be skin cancer, the dermatologist removes a small part of it, called a skin biopsy, and sends it to a lab to be examined under a microscope. That is the only way to know for certain whether a spot is skin cancer. Not every spot needs a biopsy, and the AAD says a biopsy is only needed when the dermatologist sees warning signs.
The visit can end in a few ways. If the spot is harmless, you leave with peace of mind. If a spot needs treatment, catching it early is the goal. Either way, you will know what you are dealing with before you spend money on a cosmetic plan, and you can bring that result to any later consultation.
Moles and spots inside or near a tattoo
Tattoos add a layer of difficulty. The AAD says skin cancer can develop on tattooed skin, even if the area was clear when you got the tattoo. Tattoo ink can change how a mole's border and color look, two of the ABCDEs, and it can make skin cancer cells harder for a pathologist to identify in a biopsy. The AAD adds that red, blue and black ink are the colors most likely to disguise a concerning spot.
If you plan laser tattoo removal near a mole, the AAD says spots the laser reveals should be checked, and if a spot needs a biopsy, further laser sessions may need to wait. Tell your provider about any mole in or near the tattoo at your first visit. The blog post does laser tattoo removal cause cancer covers the cancer question in more depth.
Checking your own skin between visits
The AAD says regular self-exams help catch skin cancer early, when it is highly treatable. It suggests this routine:
- Look at the front and back of your body in a full-length mirror, then each side with your arms raised.
- Bend your elbows and check your forearms, underarms, fingernails and palms.
- Check the backs of your legs and feet, the spaces between your toes, your toenails and the soles of your feet.
- Use a hand mirror to check the back of your neck and your scalp, parting your hair for a closer look.
- Use a hand mirror to check your back and buttocks.
Once your spot is cleared
If a dermatologist confirms that a spot is harmless, such as a sun spot, cosmetic treatment becomes a reasonable conversation. Laser Eraser's pigment spot page says the practice is happy to work with you once a concerning lesion has been cleared. At a free consultation, a provider examines the spots, reviews your skin type and sun history, and confirms whether cosmetic laser is a good fit. The checklist in questions before scar treatment helps you prepare, and you can book a free consultation when you are ready.
Frequently asked questions
The AAD uses the ABCDEs: Asymmetry, an irregular Border, Color that varies, a Diameter usually larger than a pencil eraser, and a spot that is Evolving or changing. Also watch for a new spot, one that looks different from the rest, one that itches or bleeds, a sore that does not heal, or a dark line under a nail. Any of these is a reason to see a dermatologist.
A suspicious mole should not be lasered. A medical review hosted by the NIH says no lesion suspicious for cancer should be treated with laser, and that fading a mole's pigment makes it harder to follow over time. If a mole worries you, a dermatologist can examine it and, if needed, take a biopsy to be checked under a microscope.
A cosmetic laser consultation is not a skin cancer screening. Laser Eraser's providers look at a spot before any cosmetic treatment, and the practice's pigment spot page says spots that are changing, growing, bleeding, itching or irregular should be examined by a dermatologist first. Diagnosing skin cancer takes a dermatologist's exam and sometimes a biopsy.
The AAD encourages regular skin self-exams and suggests following your dermatologist's advice on how often. The AAD lists many atypical moles, a personal or family history of skin cancer, and a weakened immune system as signs of higher risk, so ask your dermatologist whether you need more frequent checks. Check all of your skin, including your scalp, palms, soles, nails and any tattooed areas.
Have a dermatologist look at it before laser tattoo removal. The AAD says tattoo ink can change how a mole's border and color look and can make cancer cells harder to identify in a biopsy. If a spot needs a biopsy, further laser sessions may need to wait. Tell your laser provider about the mole at your first visit.
Related pages
Sources
- AAD: What to look for: ABCDEs of melanoma
- AAD: Melanoma: Signs and symptoms
- AAD: Find skin cancer: How to perform a skin self-exam
- AAD: Skin cancer: Symptoms, diagnosis, and causes
- AAD: What can get rid of age spots?
- AAD: Do tattoos cause skin cancer?
- StatPearls: Laser Treatment of Pigmented Lesions (NCBI Bookshelf)
- StatPearls: Lentigo Maligna Melanoma (NCBI Bookshelf)
Medically reviewed by Dr. Alvaro Alban, MD, Dr. Len Hobson, DO and Dr. Dominic Ruocco, MD on November 9, 2026. Facts checked: November 9, 2026. General information, not medical advice. Your provider will assess your own skin, ink and health.