What kind of skin conditions should I look for, regarding melanoma?

Malignant melanoma usually begins as a mottled, light brown to black flat blemish with irregular edges and is at least one-quarter inch in size. It can turn red, blue or white, or bleed and crust on the surface.

Melanoma can occur on any skin surface. In men, it is often found on the trunk (the area from the shoulders to the hips) or the head and neck. In women, melanoma often develops on the lower legs. Melanoma is rare in black people and others with dark skin. When it does develop in dark-skinned people, it tends to occur under the fingernails or toenails, or on the palms or soles.

Often, the first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape, color, or feel of an existing mole. Most melanomas have a black or blue-black area. Melanoma also may appear as a new, black, abnormal, or "ugly-looking" mole

The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Melanoma includes those listed below. Note that Melanoma symptoms usually refers to various symptoms known to a patient, but the phrase Melanoma signs may refer to those signs only noticable by a doctor:

Melanoma can start in a mole or in normal skin
Unusual mole features
Change in a mole
Abnormal mole - e.g. an "ugly" mole
ABCD mole features - asymmetry, border, color and diameter.
Asymmetric mole - irregularly shaped mole
Mole edge irregularity
Mole color irregularity - the color of the mole is variable
Mole diameter - a large mole with a wide diameter
Growing mole
Newly pigmented skin area
Darkened area under nail .

A B C D
Asymmetry
Borders being abnormal
Color change
and Depth, Difference in the mole over time...

big moles

You should attempt to find a copy of June 2006 Readers Digest. A major article from this issue was on the subject of too much sun and the underlying damage it can cause. The digest website i think is RD.com

(1) make sure you check to see if your skin condition in color
size because if it is then you might want to see you doctor to if him or her can tell if it's cancerous or not
one very important thing always where sunscreen dont let the sun
fool you the sun is harmful to all types of skin
watch your skin very carfully for any color and mole size changes

if your mole or freakle has darkened or changed size, is itchy, sorry i cant remember the other things. oh if the mole is 'meaty' and has hairs growing in it they dont develop melanoma. one of mine change size and i went to the doctor and she told me that, and not to worry about it. it's more the freckle type ones you have to worry about. If you are in any doubt go to your doctor they will be able to tell you just by looking at it if it is anything to worry about. good luck

If a mole changes 2 of the following in a few month period:
size
shape
colour (usually darker or red)

If a mole turns from dark to light and grows large (this is a more uncommon phenomenon of an unpigmented melanoma)