Symptoms of Hidden melanomas
Melanomas are common on exposed, sun-bathed areas of the skin. However, they can also develop in the body areas that have no or little exposure to the sun or ultraviolet rays. The most common body areas include your palms, soles, scalp or genitals, and the spaces between your toes. These are sometimes called hidden melanomas because they develop in places most people would not think to check. Of note, hidden melanomas are more common in people with darker skin. The dark brown to black color of moles also add additional “hidden” factor to these types of melanomas. Hidden melanomas and their symptoms include:
Melanoma under a nail.Medically known as acral-lentiginous, it is a rare form of melanoma that can develop under a toenail or fingernail. Unusually, it can also be found on the soles of the feet or the palms of the hands. As discussed earlier, it’s more common in people with a darker skin tone.
It can cause raised nail bed, swelling, itching, or bleeding from the affected area. Overtime, nail melanomas tend to change the normal (pink) color of the nail and may turn it into black.