Distinguish normal moles and skin cancer moles & bull; hello healthy

Almost everyone has at least one mole on their body.

Moles often appear in childhood. If you were born with moles, they are considered birthmarks. Birthmarks are the result of the color pigmentation of melanocytes (skin pigment cells) that clump together for no apparent reason.

This skin condition is generally harmless, however, some moles can turn cancerous.

How to distinguish normal moles and symptoms of skin cancer

An unusual shape, a sore, lump, sudden appearance without realizing it, or a change in appearance or sensation in the skin area may be a sign of melanoma or another type of skin cancer - or as an early warning.

Normal moles

Normal birthmark moles are usually evenly colored - brownish, blue-gray (Mongolian spots), reddish (salmon patches), purplish (hemangioma), jet-black shades. People with dark skin or hair tend to have a mole that is darker in color than those with fair skin or blonde hair.

Moles can blend flush with the skin or appear raised, and may even be accompanied by hair growth. The shape can be perfectly round or oval. Normal birthmarks are generally less than 6 millimeters in diameter (as wide as the eraser at the tip of a pencil).

Some birthmarks can be present as soon as you are born, but most appear during childhood or early adulthood. After moles develop, they will usually remain the same size, shape, and color for many years.

Some moles may darken (during pregnancy), increase (during adolescence), or fade (in old age: 40-50 years and over) in response to hormones. By the time you reach adulthood, you may have 10 or more birthmarks on your body.

Moles that appear at a later date should be examined by a doctor.

Moles are signs of skin cancer

The most important warning sign of melanoma is a mole that has recently appeared on the skin (post-early adolescence).

Melanoma, one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer, may start as a flat mole and get bigger over time. In rare cases, the skin condition may not be pigmented.

The “ABCDE” guideline is another way to make it easier to distinguish which of the classic signs of melanoma. If you have any of the warning signs below, tell your doctor right away to get a proper diagnosis.

A is for Asymmetry (Asymmetry)

A normal mole is perfectly symmetrical, where one edge will match the other. Birthmarks that are suspected of being a symptom of skin cancer will have a mismatch in size and shape. This is because the cells on one side are growing faster than the other. Cancer cells will tend to develop faster than normal cells, and in an irregular pattern.

B is for the border

The borders of a normal birthmark will have a defined, distinct boundary where your skin tone ends and where the mole-induced pigmentation begins.

If the border of a birthmark is blurry - like someone coloring outside the lines - this could be a sign of cancer. Ragged or blurry edges are also the result of uncontrolled growth of cancer cells.

C for Color

As long as the color is solid, even on all sides, your mole is normal and nothing to worry about. However, if you notice that there are multiple shades of color in one area of ​​the mole, your birthmark could be cancerous.

Melanoma is shaped like a patch that has different shades of one color family. For example, in the middle it is pink which gradually darkens reddish at the edges, or the opposite (a mole that is red or pink is normal). Or, cancer moles can show completely different colored patches in one place, for example red, white, gray in one mole.

D is for Diameter

A normal birthmark will stay the same size over time. A mole that grows suddenly, bigger than 6 mm, can indicate a problem. However, melanomas are also sometimes found in sizes that are smaller than they should be.

E is for Evolving (Change)

Change is a bad sign when it comes to birthmarks. A mole that changes color, size, shape so that it looks completely different than all the other moles on your skin indicates that it is time for you to see a doctor.

It is also important to have regular self-examination of the skin to keep an eye out for any birthmarks that have any suspicious growth or change in color or shape.

Outside of the ABCDE guidelines, also pay attention to any other differences that your birthmark may have - such as redness, scaling, bleeding, pus discharge, swelling beyond the edge of the mole, itching sensation, pain, or pain when touched.

In addition, pay attention to the following three characteristics:

• There are more than 100 moles on your body
• Most are larger than 8 mm
• Most of them are atypical

If you have these three characteristics of a mole, it is called " classic atypical mole syndrome ", You are at high risk for developing melanoma. Your chances will increase dramatically if you not only have this syndrome, but also have a close family member (grade one or two) with melanoma. While atypical birthmarks often appear in childhood, they can appear at any time of life in people with this condition.