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.
What are Symptoms of Melanoma Other Than Moles?
“How does melanoma make you feel?” Our Little Rock-based team at Dermatology Group of Arkansas fields all kinds of questions from patients seeking our help, but this may be one of the most important.
Melanoma is the deadliest type of skin cancer. When it comes to this form of the disease, patients can benefit from knowing what to look out for so that they can treat it early and have a higher chance of a successful cure.
Of course, everyone should always be on the lookout for moles and spots—especially those that appear unusual. The ABCDE rule is a great thing to remember when examining your skin for signs of cancer. This refers to A for Asymmetry, B for Border, C for Color, D for Diameter, and E for evolving. Any mole that is asymmetrical, has a blurred or scalloped border that isn’t well defined, has an unusual colour, is larger than the size of a pencil eraser, or is constantly changing and showing new symptoms (such as bleeding and itching) may be a cause for concern.
The Ugly Duckling rule, which refers to examining the skin for any mole that looks especially different from the others, is another helpful tool.
All of this is important to remember because the first sign of melanoma is often the presence of a new mole or changes to an existing mole. However, moles aren’t the only symptoms associated with this cancer. It’s important to know about other, less common signs as well:
Other Changes to the Skin
More symptoms associated with melanoma include scaly, discolored patches that look like warts or scabs, irritation, open sores, skin craters, discoloration, and redness.
Non-Skin-Related Symptoms
If you have advanced melanoma, the cancerous cells may spread to other areas of the body and cause non-skin-related symptoms, such as unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, and fatigue.
The types of symptoms you may experience can vary depending on the location of the melanoma. For example, if the cancer is close to the lungs, you may experience shortness of breath.
If you have any of these warning signs and want professional guidance, contact the Little Rock-based Dermatology Group of Arkansas. Call us at 501-227-8422 or 1-800-225-8422 or submit a contact form online and schedule a consultation if you would like to discuss diagnosis and treatments for skin cancer.