Most moles tend to develop during the first twenty years of our lives, but it is not uncommon for them to appear later on. These small clusters of pigmented skin cells may appear dark brown or black and may be flat on the skin surface or slightly raised. Because moles can appear anywhere on your body, it is important to track their location so you can notice if and when they change.
Most of your moles, even the suspicious, quirky looking ones, are probably normal and not a threat to your health, but the possibility of a cancerous mole should not be taken lightly or ignored. The key to playing it safe is a keen awareness of certain kinds of change.
The ABCDE’s are a quick and easy way to identify potential issues with a mole or skin growth. If you have any of the following warning signs of melanoma, schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.
Know the ABCDEs :
- Asymmetry: A round, circular mole is no cause for concern, but if you are unable to draw a line down its middle without getting two basically matching halves, your irregular, asymmetrical mole should be checked out.
- Border: Uneven, jagged, or poorly defined borders may also be cause for concern. Non-cancerous moles usually have relatively smooth, round edges.
- Color: Regular moles tend to be a consistent shade of brown, black or grey. Melanoma lesions, however, can have different shades of pigment scattered throughout them. Melanomas may also appear as a non-pigmented bump on the surface of your skin, so a lack of color on an unusual bump or growth should be considered.
- Diameter: The size of a pencil eraser is about 6 millimeters in diameter. Anything larger than 6 mm should be regularly examined by a professional.
- Evolution: If a mole or skin lesion looks different from the others, or if it is changing in size, shape, color, elevation, or has any other characteristics such as itching, tenderness, pain, oozing, flaking, or bleeding, consult a doctor immediately.
The key underlying factor in melanoma prevention is change. If your doctor examines a suspicious mole and considers it potentially dangerous, a biopsy will be performed to acquire a diagnosis.
While many awkward-looking moles are not dangerous, they may cause severe discomfort. Moles do not have to be dangerous to be removed. In fact, the process of having your moles removed is easy, relatively simple and not very painful. One of the keys to a successful removal procedure is finding a medical expert with strong skills and extensive experience in removal.
If you are tired of living with an uncomfortable, unsightly, or potentially dangerous mole, please consult one of our experts at FirstMed. Now through the end of summer, we are offering special Saturday consultation visits with one of our most experienced doctors, who has helped many people remove their uncomfortable moles through the safe, easy process of hyfrecation.
Find out more about our Saturday special offer here.
by Anna Paksy
Published on: June 15, 2016
