Moles are growths on
the skin that may be a little darker in color compared to the skin pigment.
They come about as a result of skin cells (known as melanocytes) clustering
together as they develop, instead of spreading evenly on the skin. They are a
common occurrence in some families since they can be passed on from parents to
children. Most moles are harmless and may even stop growing and not cause much
difference.
Some moles may spell
bad news though. Atypical moles (dysplastic
nevi) are an example. They are comprised of many moles (nevi) that are
irregularly shaped. The size, color and location may vary but they will be
larger than your everyday mole. The color is usually uneven but with a dark
brown center and edges that are lighter and uneven. Most people with such moles
have more than 20 of them and some have as high as 100 moles.
These are however not termed
as cancerous moles (though someone
who has a large number of atypical moles
is more prone to get melanoma, which is cancer of the skin). But, any changes
that occur to them should be carefully noted and reported to a doctor. Melanoma
occurs on the skin but may also spread to other parts near the skin and through
the blood to other body organs.
Other features of cancerous moles
Even if a mole is not
irregularly shaped it does not mean that there is no risk of it being
cancerous. Be on the lookout for an itchy mole. These will have you constantly scratching even when you feel there is
no specific trigger.
Sometimes you may have
a painful mole. It may just become
tender of its own accord and the pain may be easy to ignore at first. The
solution you settle for may be to take some pain medication but you need to get
it checked by a doctor.
A bleeding mole should not be ignored as well. Even as you wipe the
blood figure out how you will contact your doctor because that is not
good.
Cancerous moles
may occur at any age but doctors are more concerned with those that appear
after the age of 30. A mole that looks different or behaves differently like a bleeding mole, painful mole or an itchy mole should be checked. If a mole
was always of a normal shape and size and then changes begin to occur to it
like a deepening of the color, a change in size, height or shape you should see
your doctor.
For you to see the
changes you will have to monitor your moles. You can use a mirror or ask
someone to help you look at areas out of your visual range. Those areas that
see the sun a lot should get more attention.
Some
people just prefer to avoid the trouble of going through their moles every so
often so they want them removed. A mole can get removed by a dermatologist for
cosmetic reasons as well and not just medical ones. So have a chat with yours
if you so desire.
If you are looking for more information on Signs of Skin Cancer, About Skin Cancer, What is Skin Cancer, and then visit our website chicagoskincancersurgery.com today to consult with our physicians online
ReplyDeletewhat is skin cancer
Yes, it is true that different mole indicate some different things. Mole check is necessary, so that you will not face more problem in the future. Thanks for sharing this with us.
ReplyDelete