So, be sure to contact your healthcare provider if you have any questions. This gallery of photographs will alternate between normal, benign moles and melanoma so that you can learn to recognize each. A nevus is a benign noncancerous melanocytic tumor, more commonly called a mole. Nevi the plural of nevus are not usually present at birth but begin to appear in children and teenagers. Most moles will never cause any problems, but a person who has more than 50 normal moles or more than 5 atypical or "dysplastic" moles has a higher risk of developing melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer.
This picture of a melanoma skin cancer tumor shows how they are often irregularly shaped and multicolored. The earlier melanoma is detected, the better the chance for successful treatment.
Monthly self-examinations may help find it early. Often, the first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape, or color of an existing mole. It also may appear as a new or abnormal-looking mole. This is an example of a normal mole; note that it is almost perfectly round.
Melanoma tumors differ in that they are usually asymmetrical lopsided. Although most moles are benign not cancerous , certain types carry a higher risk of developing melanoma. Caucasian population has moles called "dysplastic" or "atypical" nevi, which are larger than ordinary moles most are 5 mm across or larger , have irregular borders, and are various shades or colors. An example of how melanoma tumors are often asymmetrical lopsided , unlike noncancerous moles. If you have 50 or more normal moles or 5 or more "dysplastic" moles , you should check your skin thoroughly several times per year.
Even if you don't have any moles, you should do a skin self-exam once per year. If you see any of the following signs, contact your healthcare provider:. A normal mole is shown in this picture. Note that the color is the same throughout the mole — there are no multiple shades of brown, black, or tan, as is usually seen in melanoma. This melanoma tumor has a border that is uneven, ragged, or notched.
This is another way to distinguish melanoma from normal moles, which typically have borders that are smooth. Normal moles come in a variety of sizes and colors: a a small freckle-like skin discoloration called a "macule" ; b a larger macule; c a mole that is raised above level of the skin; and d a mole that has lost its dark color.
None of these examples are melanoma. A melanoma lesion containing different shades of brown, black, and tan. Unusual moles, sores, lumps, blemishes, markings, or changes in the way an area of the skin looks or feels may be a sign of melanoma or another type of skin cancer, or a warning that it might occur. A normal mole is usually an evenly colored brown, tan, or black spot on the skin. It can be either flat or raised.
Moles are skin growths made of melanocytes. While most moles develop during childhood and adolescence, adults can also develop new moles. Not all moles that appear in adulthood are melanomas. However, if a new mole arises, or if a person notices any changes to their existing moles, they should visit a doctor or dermatologist for checks. People who have a family history of atypical moles or melanoma should also have skin checks regularly. Some people use home remedies to get rid of their moles.
However, these remedies have not been proven to be safe or effective. Instead, people are…. When a new mole appears or a previously stable mole begins changing, it could be a sign of cancer.
What about when a mole disappears? Moles are small skin lesions consisting of cells that produce melanin. Moles are usually brown, and round or oval with a smooth edge. The vast…. New moles and what to look out for Medically reviewed by Owen Kramer, M. Blondes and redheads freckle most easily. After middle age, a person may acquire other dark areas that are not moles.
Brown, wart-like growths that appear on the face or trunk and look as if they have been stuck onto the skin may be harmless growths called seborrheic keratoses. Multiple small gray-brown spots that may appear on wrists, backs of the hands, forearms, and face are actinic lentigines.
They are not cancers. Both actinic lentigines and seborrheic keratoses are easily diagnosed by a dermatologist. They will never be a threat to the health of the person. Spots or blemishes that warrant medical concern are those that do something out of the ordinary — those that act differently from other existing moles. This includes any spot that changes in size, shape, color, bleeds, itches, becomes painful, or moles that appear when a person is past twenty. If you notice a mole that does not follow the normal patterns, a dermatologist may be able to assure you that the mole is harmless, or confirm that it is cancerous.
He or she may remove the mole or part of it biopsy to study it under a microscope. This is a simple and harmless procedure. If the growth was only partially removed and it is found to be cancerous, then the entire lesion and an extra margin of safety will need to be removed. A person may wish to get rid of moles that are irritating them, or simply because they are unattractive.
The most common methods of removal include numbing and shaving the mole off, or cutting out the entire lesion and stitching the area closed. Sometimes a mole will recur after it is removed. If a mole has been removed and begins to reappear, the patient should return to the dermatologist.
Irritation will not cause a mole to become cancerous, but a person might want to have moles that are frequently shaved over removed because they are annoying.
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