When Are Moles Considered to Be Worrisome?
Most moles are benign, meaning they are not made up of dangerous cancerous cells. That said, some moles—which are growths made up of collections of pigmented cells—can indicate the presence of skin cancer. So how can you tell when there’s something suspicious about a particular mole? The Little Rock area’s Dermatology Group of Arkansas shares these warning signs to watch for in the hopes that the advice can save lives.
Put simply, look for anything that could fall under the ABCDEs of skin cancer.
A: Asymmetry
A benign mole tends to be a symmetrical mole, meaning if you were to draw a line down its middle, the two halves would mirror each other in appearance. An oddly shaped or asymmetrical mole can indicate the growth of cancerous cells.
B: Border Irregularity
If a mole is developing normally, the border should be clear, making the lesion easy to distinguish from the surrounding skin. A mole that is developing abnormally may have a hazy, blurry, or indistinct border.
C: Color Irregularity
A singular lesion should be uniform in color and not an unusual hue. Think solid browns. A mole with unusual coloration—such as black, white, or blue—or a mole that contains several colors may be worrisome.
D: Diameter
Moles are small, so the bigger the lesion, the more attention it deserves. Most moles never get larger than the diameter of a pencil eraser. If you find one that is bigger, you should schedule a closer look.
E: Evolving
A mole that is visibly changing in a relatively short amount of time can indicate rapidly dividing cancer cells. Watch for noticeable evolutions in a mole’s shape, edges, coloration, size, or any other quality.
Finally, keep an eye out for what is known as the “ugly duckling” factor. Moles that obviously stand out, even if they don’t feature any of the ABCDEs, may be cause for concern.
If you take note of any worrisome moles on your own skin, schedule a visit with a dermatologist for a closer look and potential biopsy. The sooner a diagnosis can be made, the sooner next steps can be taken as necessary.
Ready to learn about what BOTOX® could do for you? Reach out to the Contact Dermatology Group of Arkansas by sending a message online or calling 501.227.8422.