See a doctor now if you have a new, changing, or irregular dark spot on your foot, a dark streak under a toenail, or a sore that will not heal. Melanoma of the foot is often found late because it hides where you do not look — and early detection is what makes it curable. Do not wait to see if it changes. Call Family Foot & Leg Center at (239) 430-3668 or book online now for prompt evaluation.
Most spots on the foot are harmless freckles, moles, or bruises. But the foot is also a surprisingly common and dangerous site for malignant melanoma, the most serious skin cancer. At Family Foot & Leg Center our board-certified podiatric surgeons evaluate and biopsy suspicious lesions quickly, because with melanoma, time is the difference between a simple excision and a life-threatening disease.
Melanoma on the foot is frequently the acral lentiginous type — it develops on the soles, heels, between the toes, and under the nails, areas that get little sun and that people rarely inspect. Because it does not fit the usual sun-exposure picture, it is often overlooked or mistaken for a bruise, a wart, a callus, a fungal nail, or even gangrene, and treated for months before the true cause is found. A black spot under the big toenail is a classic example. This late detection — not any special aggressiveness — is the main reason foot melanoma is dangerous, and it is exactly why knowing the warning signs matters.
Use this simple checklist to evaluate any spot on your foot, and seek prompt evaluation if you see any of them:
A — Asymmetry: one half does not match the other.
B — Border: edges are ragged, notched, or blurred.
C — Color: uneven or multiple colors (brown, black, blue, red, or white) in one spot.
D — Diameter: larger than about 6 mm (a pencil eraser) — though melanomas can be smaller.
E — Evolving: any change in size, shape, or color, or a spot that itches, bleeds, or will not heal.
For the nails, watch for the “ugly duckling” signs: a dark band that is widening, pigment spreading onto the cuticle or skin around the nail (Hutchinson’s sign), a discoloration that appears with no injury, or a nail change that will not grow out.
Southwest Florida’s sun-soaked, outdoor lifestyle and large older population mean skin cancer awareness is especially important here. Sandals and barefoot time expose the feet, and years of accumulated sun add risk to the tops of the feet and ankles. But remember: acral melanomas on the sole and under the nail are not caused by sun exposure and can occur in anyone, of any skin tone — so everyone should check their feet, including the soles and between the toes, regularly.
We examine suspicious lesions closely, often with dermoscopy, and — crucially — when there is any doubt, we biopsy. A biopsy is the only way to know for certain whether a lesion is melanoma. If melanoma is confirmed, treatment is guided by how deep it is and centers on wide surgical excision to remove it with a margin of healthy tissue; a sentinel lymph node biopsy may be recommended to check for spread, and we coordinate promptly with oncology for staging and any additional therapy. Early, thin melanomas are frequently cured by excision alone — which is the entire reason we urge you not to wait on a changing spot. We also identify and treat other foot skin cancers and precancers, such as squamous cell carcinoma and actinic keratoses.
Family Foot & Leg Center has served Southwest Florida since 2005 under the clinical direction of Dr. Kevin Lam, DPM, FACFAS, DABLES, DABPS — named among America’s Top Podiatrists and trained at Temple University, Mount Sinai Medical Center, and Jackson Memorial Health. With in-office biopsy, surgical expertise, oncology coordination, and 9 offices from Marco Island to Sarasota, we evaluate suspicious lesions quickly and act decisively when it counts.
A new or changing dark spot on the sole, heel, or between the toes with uneven color and irregular borders, a dark band under a toenail, or a non-healing sore or bump. It can even be pink or colorless. Any suspicious lesion should be evaluated promptly.
Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter over ~6 mm, and Evolving change. If a foot spot shows any of these, have it checked right away.
Yes — subungual melanoma appears as a dark band under the nail, often the big toe. A widening band, pigment spreading to the skin (Hutchinson’s sign), no injury history, or a spot that will not grow out warrants prompt evaluation and often a biopsy.
Melanoma is serious and can spread, but when found and removed early it is highly treatable and often curable. Foot melanomas are dangerous mainly because they are caught late — prompt evaluation saves lives.
Any of our 9 offices — Naples, Estero, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Port Charlotte, and Sarasota. Do not wait on a changing or non-healing spot.
Disclaimer: This page is for education and is not a diagnosis. It cannot tell you whether a specific spot is or is not melanoma. If you have a new, changing, irregular, bleeding, or non-healing lesion on your foot or under a nail, seek in-person medical evaluation and biopsy without delay.
Don’t wait on a suspicious spot — early evaluation saves lives. Call (239) 430-3668 or book your appointment online 24/7.
Family Foot and Leg Center, PA — Podiatrist Naples FL | Foot Surgery | Heel Pain | Bunion Treatment | Diabetic Foot Care | Sports Podiatry | Serving Marco Island, Naples, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Port Charlotte & Sarasota.
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