A new or changing spot can be easy to put off – especially when life is busy and it does not hurt. Yet melanoma rates rising in Australia are a reminder that waiting for a skin change to become painful is not a safe strategy. Melanoma can grow silently, and early assessment can make a life-changing difference.

Australia has some of the highest melanoma rates in the world. Our outdoor way of life, intense ultraviolet (UV) radiation and large fair-skinned population all contribute. The encouraging news is that many melanomas can be found at an early, highly treatable stage when people know what to look for and seek a prompt skin check.

Why melanoma rates are rising

Melanoma develops in melanocytes, the cells that produce pigment in the skin. It is less common than basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, but it is more likely to spread to other parts of the body if not treated early.

There is no single reason behind rising melanoma diagnoses. Long-term sun exposure and past sunburns are major drivers. Damage from UV radiation accumulates over time, meaning sun exposure in childhood, adolescence and early adulthood can still affect skin cancer risk decades later. A history of sunburn, particularly blistering sunburn, matters.

Australia’s UV levels can be high even on cool, cloudy or windy days. People often associate sun damage with a scorching day at the beach, but regular incidental exposure also adds up. This includes time spent working outdoors, walking the dog, gardening, driving between jobs, coaching sport or sitting beside a window with strong sunlight.

An ageing population also affects diagnosis numbers. Melanoma risk generally increases with age because the skin has had more time to accumulate UV damage. At the same time, melanoma is not only a disease of older Australians. It is one of the more commonly diagnosed cancers in younger adults, which makes attention to changing spots relevant at every adult age.

Improved awareness and better access to dermoscopy and skin-check services may identify melanomas that once went unnoticed. That is a positive development, but it does not remove the underlying risk from UV exposure. A higher number of diagnoses can reflect both a real disease burden and earlier detection. What matters for an individual is not guessing which explanation applies, but acting early when a lesion is suspicious.

Rising melanoma rates do not affect everyone equally

Fair skin, light eyes, freckles and hair that burns easily are well-known risk factors, but they are not the full picture. Anyone can develop melanoma, including people with naturally darker skin. In skin of colour, melanoma may be diagnosed later because it is wrongly assumed to be unlikely. It can occur on the soles of the feet, palms, under nails and other areas that receive little sun.

Risk is higher for people with a personal history of melanoma or other skin cancers, a close family history of melanoma, many moles, atypical moles, or a weakened immune system. Some medicines and medical conditions can suppress immunity, so ask your GP or treating specialist whether you need more frequent skin surveillance.

Outdoor workers deserve particular attention. Construction workers, farmers, tradies, landscapers, fishers, delivery drivers and people working on the water may receive substantial UV exposure across many years. Sun protection at work is not cosmetic or optional. It is a practical safety measure, like using the right protective equipment for any other workplace hazard.

The spot that needs checking may not look dramatic

Many people know the ABCDE guide for melanoma: asymmetry, border irregularity, colour variation, diameter and evolving. It remains useful, especially the final point. A mole or spot that is changing in size, shape, colour, surface or sensation deserves medical assessment.

However, not every melanoma follows the textbook pattern. Some are small. Some are pink, red, skin-coloured or dark brown rather than black. Some look like a dry patch, a pimple that does not clear, or a small sore that repeatedly crusts or bleeds. A lesion that stands out as the ‘ugly duckling’ compared with your other spots is also worth checking.

Pay attention to a changing streak or pigment under a fingernail or toenail, particularly if colour extends onto the surrounding skin. Check areas you may overlook: the scalp, ears, back, buttocks, between the toes and soles of the feet. Ask a partner, friend or clinician to help with places you cannot easily see.

Do not try to diagnose a suspicious lesion from a photo alone. Images can be useful for monitoring a spot over time, but lighting, angle and image quality can hide important details. A clinician can examine the lesion directly, often with a dermatoscope, and decide whether monitoring, treatment or biopsy is appropriate.

When to book a skin check

Book a prompt appointment with a GP or qualified skin cancer clinician if you notice a new, changing, unusual or non-healing spot. Do not wait for your next routine appointment if a lesion is bleeding, ulcerated, rapidly enlarging or noticeably different from the rest of your skin.

A skin check is especially sensible if you have had melanoma before, have many moles, have a strong family history, work outside or have had significant sun exposure and sunburn. How often you need a professional check depends on your personal risk. There is no one timetable that suits every Australian, which is why an individual risk discussion with a doctor is more useful than relying on a generic schedule.

Between appointments, get familiar with your own skin. This is not about becoming alarmed by every freckle. It is about noticing what is normal for you so changes are easier to recognise. A regular monthly check in good light can help. If you find something concerning, arrange the appointment rather than repeatedly checking it at home.

Prevention still matters after years in the sun

Past exposure cannot be undone, but future damage can be reduced. Sun protection works best as a routine rather than a last-minute response to a hot day. Check the UV Index and use sun protection when UV levels are 3 or above.

Use a combination of shade, sun-protective clothing, a broad-brimmed hat, sunglasses and broad-spectrum SPF50+ sunscreen. Apply sunscreen generously before going outside and reapply every two hours, or more often after swimming, sweating or towel drying. Sunscreen is valuable, but it should not be used to extend deliberate time in intense sun.

For parents, the goal is not to keep children indoors. It is to make sun-safe habits ordinary: a hat before sport, shade at the park, protective clothing for long days outside and sunscreen as part of getting ready. These habits matter because childhood and adolescent sunburn can contribute to future melanoma risk.

Avoid tanning beds entirely. They expose skin to UV radiation and increase skin cancer risk. A tan is not a sign that skin has become safer in the sun. It is evidence that UV damage has occurred.

Early action can change the outcome

Hearing that melanoma rates are rising can feel confronting. It should not lead to panic, or to the belief that melanoma is inevitable. It should lead to practical action: protect your skin, know your risk, notice changes and have suspicious spots assessed without delay.

When melanoma is found early and removed, treatment may be straightforward. Delays can allow the cancer to grow deeper into the skin or spread, making treatment more complex. Every minute does not determine the outcome, but timely assessment is always the safer choice.

If a spot has changed, looks different or simply does not seem right, trust that observation and book a skin check. Knowledge can save your life, and a prompt appointment can provide either early treatment or the reassurance you need.