Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer, accounting for the majority of skin cancer deaths in the United States. It occurs when the melanocytes in the skin undergo mutation and turn cancerous. Melanoma symptoms are often hidden, which it makes difficult to diagnose in the initial stages. Read here the four different types of skin melanoma and their common treatment options.

Types of Melanoma

• Superficial Spreading Melanoma:  This type of melanoma will have cells growing outward from the skin rather than inwards. Therefore, the patient is not at risk of the cancer spreading to other parts of the body. Mostly, middle-aged people are diagnosed with this type of melanoma. It occurs in the arms, legs, chest and back. It is one of the common types of melanoma.
• Nodular Melanoma:  This type of melanoma is one of fastest-growing  cancer types. It grows deep down in the skin and at a much faster rate if it is not diagnosed at the right time. In this type, the melanoma symptoms will appear to be brownish red or black . Nodular melanoma occurs mostly on the parts of the body that are exposed to the sun.
• Lentigo maligna melanoma:  This type of melanoma is not commonly found in patients; hence cit is onsidered a rare condition. It is usually diagnosed among elderly patients. If you are exposed to the sun for a long period, you could be at risk for this type of melanoma. It is less serious than the other types of melanoma. The melanoma symptoms will be visible on the face or neck.
• Acral lentigineous melanoma:  This is a rare skin cancer that develops in the toenails, fingernails, palms or soles of the hands or feet, etc. Sun exposure is not often the triggering factor of this type of melanoma, and it is usually observed in people with a dark skin complexion.

Treatment for melanoma
Melanoma treatment depends on various factors such as the stage, type, melanoma symptoms, the patient’s general health, etc. Surgical removal of the cancer cells, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, adjuvant drug treatments are some of the methods used to get treat this condition. A healthcare professional can advise regarding the right treatment method after a thorough diagnosis.