Symptom library
What is this spot on my skin? Pick the body area below to see the most likely causes for red, brown, white, black, pearly or itchy spots on that exact location, the red-flag warning signs of skin cancer, and clear advice on whether to monitor at home or book a dermatology review. 480 plain-English guides, reviewed against current dermatology guidance.
Not sure where to start? Jump to the colour that matches the spot you're seeing — each link opens a dedicated guide with photos, likely causes and red-flag warning signs.
Usually benign: Sun spot (solar lentigo), seborrhoeic keratosis, freckle, common mole
Rule out: Melanoma — asymmetric, multi-coloured or changing
Usually benign: Dark seborrhoeic keratosis, blue naevus, blood blister
Rule out: Nodular or acral melanoma, subungual melanoma under a nail
Usually benign: Cherry angioma, acne, folliculitis, contact dermatitis
Rule out: Non-blanching petechiae, spreading cellulitis, pyogenic granuloma
Usually benign: Stretch mark, healing scar, irritated mole
Rule out: Basal cell carcinoma — pearly bump with tiny visible blood vessels
Usually benign: Milia, whiteheads, pityriasis alba, idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis
Rule out: Vitiligo (autoimmune) or tinea versicolor (fungal)
Usually benign: Skin tag, sebaceous cyst, lipoma, wart
Rule out: Amelanotic melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, growing painless nodule
Different parts of the body see different sun exposure, friction and sweat patterns — so the same-looking spot can mean different things on the face versus the foot. Pick the location closest to your spot.
The face has the highest density of sebaceous glands and the most cumulative UV exposure of any body site, so it shows acne, rosacea, sun damage and early skin cancers earlier than the rest of the body.
The scalp is sun-exposed (especially with thinning hair) and has dense sebaceous glands, making it prone to seborrhoeic dermatitis, folliculitis and missed early skin cancers.
The neck combines chronic sun exposure (especially the back and sides) with friction from collars and jewellery, so it commonly shows sun damage, skin tags and irritant rashes.
The upper chest is one of the most sun-damaged areas in adults and a common site for cherry angiomas, seborrhoeic keratoses and basal cell carcinomas.
The back is hard to self-monitor and is the single most common site for melanoma in men. Many moles change there unnoticed for years.
The abdomen is usually covered, so new lesions there are more likely to be benign moles, skin tags, cysts or stretch-related changes than sun-driven cancers.
The outer (extensor) arms get heavy sun exposure and commonly show actinic keratoses, sun spots and squamous cell carcinomas, while the inner arms are more often affected by eczema and allergic reactions.
The backs of the hands accumulate sun damage almost as quickly as the face, while the palms and finger webs are common sites for eczema, fungal infections and contact dermatitis.
Legs (especially the lower legs in women) are a leading site for melanoma in women, and also commonly show shaving irritation, folliculitis, varicose-related changes and dry skin.
The feet are a frequently missed site for acral melanoma (especially on the sole and under the nail) as well as warts, fungal infections and pressure-related callus.
The groin is warm, moist and frequently rubbed by clothing, making it a hotspot for fungal infections, intertrigo, folliculitis and skin tags, and a sensitive site for any new lump.
The buttocks are prone to folliculitis, boils, pressure-related changes and contact dermatitis from prolonged sitting, but new dark lesions still warrant a check.
Prefer to search by condition name, symptom or rash type instead of body area? These hubs cover the same library from different angles.
Browse 200+ named skin conditions with photos and symptoms.
Identify rashes by appearance, texture and distribution.
Plain-English guide to how dermatologists narrow a diagnosis.
Start from a symptom (itch, bleed, scale) instead of a location.
Photograph any spot for an instant ABCDE risk indication.
Red-flag checklist for any brand-new skin spot in adulthood.
Most adult skin spots fall into a handful of common groups: sun spots (solar lentigines) and seborrhoeic keratoses (benign brown growths), cherry angiomas (small red dots), milia and whiteheads (white bumps), folliculitis and acne (red bumps), and skin tags. The minority that matter most are basal cell carcinoma (pearly bump that won't heal), squamous cell carcinoma (rough scaly patch), and melanoma (asymmetric, multi-coloured or changing mole). Pick the body area above to see the most likely causes for spots in that exact location.
Use the ABCDE rule for pigmented spots: Asymmetry, irregular Borders, more than one Colour, Diameter over 6 mm, and Evolution (any change in size, shape or colour). For non-pigmented skin cancer, watch for a pearly bump with visible tiny blood vessels (basal cell), a scaly or crusty patch that won't heal in 4 weeks (squamous cell or actinic keratosis), or any sore that bleeds repeatedly. When in doubt, a free AI mole check gives an instant risk indication.
Brown spots are usually pigment-related — sun spots, freckles, seborrhoeic keratoses, melasma or moles. Red spots are most often inflammation (acne, folliculitis, eczema), broken blood vessels (cherry angiomas, petechiae) or allergic rashes. White spots are typically pigment loss (vitiligo, pityriasis alba), fungal infection (tinea versicolor) or sun-damage-related (idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis). Each colour has its own dedicated guide linked above.
Book a dermatology review within 2–4 weeks if a spot is new in adulthood, changing in size, shape or colour, bleeding or crusting without obvious trauma, asymmetric or multi-coloured, larger than 6 mm, or the 'ugly duckling' that looks different from your other moles. Seek same-day care for spreading redness with fever, a painful purple rash that doesn't blanch, or any rapidly growing painful lump.
Photograph the spot in even daylight with a coin or ruler next to it for scale, then upload it to the free AI mole checker. The tool gives an instant ABCDE-style risk indication and lets you compare the same spot over weeks or months to detect change — the single strongest signal of an early skin cancer.
We publish 480 plain-English guides covering 12 body locations (face, scalp, neck, chest, back, abdomen, arm, hand, leg, foot, groin, buttock) crossed with 40 common spot types — red, white, brown, black, pearly, scaly, itchy, painful, bleeding, growing and more. Each guide is reviewed against current dermatology guidance.
