Lesions on any part of the body which have one or more of the following features:
Change in colour, size or shape in an existing mole
Moles with Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Colour irregularity, Diameter increasing or >6mm
New growing nodule with or without pigment
Persistent (more than four weeks) ulceration, bleeding or oozing
Persistent (more than four weeks) surrounding inflammation or altered sensation
New or changing pigmented line in a nail or unexplained lesion in a nail
Slow growing, non-healing or keratinising lesions with induration (thickened base)
Any melanoma or invasive SCC or a high-risk BCC diagnosed from biopsy
Any unexplained skin lesion in an immuno-suppressed patient
BCC invading potentially dangerous areas, for example peri-ocular, auditory meatus or any major vessel or nerve.
Good practice points
Lesions which are suspicious for melanoma should not be removed in primary care. All excised skin specimens should be sent for pathological examination
Lesions suspicious of basal cell carcinomas (BCC) may not require urgent referral, except those invading potentially dangerous areas
Referrals should be accompanied by an accurate description of the lesion (including size, pain and tenderness) and photos if possible, subject to clinical governance arrangements, to permit appropriate triage