Skin moles are common and usually harmless!
It Could Be More Than a Beauty Mark!
The truth is that skin moles can be cancerous. The risk of any one skin more being cancerous, however, is relatively low, but a person who has more than 50 normal moles has a higher risk of developing melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer.
Here are a few ideas and criteria to keep in mind as you consider your skin moles or those of a loved one.
Skin Moles are Common
Moles are common!
Skin moles are more common than most people realize. It’s not uncommon for a majority of adults to have 15 to 20 in various places on their body. It’s also not uncommon for large numbers of adults to have many more. Man tend to have them more commonly on their backs, and women more commonly on their lower legs.
The great majority of skin moles appear during the first two decades of a person’s life, usually appearing early for children and teenagers.
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Skin moles are, in fact, classified as tumors – a nevus, or benign (non-cancerous) tumor. This makes them the most common type of tumor among humans. Before you get overly concerned about your skin mole tumors, realize that the large majority of skin moles are harmless and will not progress to anything more serious.
Unfortunately, this still leaves the cosmetic issue. We tend to consider skin moles as unsightly, and sometimes even a lone, small one can negatively affect how we see ourselves. We may even become obsessed with hiding the skin mole until we can get it removed.
Much of this over-reaction is due to how society seems to hold up ‘perfect’ beauty as the universal goal just so savvy marketers can sell us more products and services.
Skin Moles and Cancer
Moles can become pre-cancerous!
On the serious side, some skin moles can in fact be precancerous with the potential of developing into very dangerous types of cancer – melanoma. Determining whether or not a skin mole is precancerous is best left to your physician, the only one qualified to diagnose such a growth.
Any condition associated with the possibility of cancer is scary to almost everyone. Luckily, most growths present no harm.
Harmful or dangerous skin moles are referred to as dysplastic nevi, and are the ones that can eventually become melanoma. As a rule, these atypical growths are most common in people with a genetic predisposition (another good reason to know your family’s medical history!).
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A Simple Test
There are several signs that indicate a skin mole might be dangerous. While this is not a complete list, if your skin mole meets one or more of these simple criteria, you should consult your physician right away.
Size matters!
It is larger than an eraser on a pencil. Normal moles are usually less than 6 millimeters (the size of a pencil eraser!). This is one of the common cancerous moles signs. Consult a dermatologist if your mole appears to be larger than the indicated size.
Has size, sensitivity changed?
It changes rapidly in size or sensitivity. The mole or a part of it will be raised or elevated. Melanoma blisters mostly change very rapidly in size. If you see any changes in moles like if they increase or decrease in size, itch, change color or bleed, then consult a doctor immediately.
Irregular or asymetrical shape?
It has an inconsistent shape. Melanoma lesions generally have uneven borders. If your mole has a uneven border, or appears blurred, then consult a doctor immediately.
A related issue is asymmetry. Typical skin moles appear the same when divided into two halves. This is one of the trickiest cancerous moles signs. Mentally divide your mole into two equal halves and compare them. If you find them different in any way, consult a physician.
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Color is a major indicator!
It has an inconsistent color. A normal mole is typically of the same color throughout. A suspicious mole, on the other hand, will be of different shades of either the same color or of different colors. Thus, cancerous moles scalp will have different colors like shades of brown, tan, black, blue or red. This is one of the cancerous moles symptoms which is highly prominent and needs to be acknowledged immediately.
If you are worried about a skin mole being cancerous or dangerous, understand that only your physician will be able to make a definitive diagnosis. As always, the sooner you check with your physician, the better off you will be if the skin mole is in fact dangerous and requires additional treatment.
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