Skin Cancer Moles Biography
Source(google.com.pk)A common mole (nevus) is a small growth on the skin that is usually pink, tan, or brown and has a distinct edge. People who have more than 50 common moles have a greater chance than others of developing a dangerous type of skin cancer known as melanoma. Most common moles do not turn into melanoma.
A dysplastic nevus is an unusual mole that is often large and flat and does not have a symmetric round or oval shape. The edge is often indistinct. It may have a mixture of pink, tan, or brown shades. People who have many dysplastic nevi have a greater chance than others of developing melanoma, but most dysplastic nevi do not turn into melanoma.
If the color, size, shape, or height of a mole changes or if it starts to itch, bleed, or ooze, people should tell their doctor. People should also tell their doctor if they see a new mole that doesn’t look like their other moles.
The only way to diagnose melanoma is to remove tissue and check it for cancer cells.
What is a common mole?
A common mole is a growth on the skin that develops when pigment cells (melanocytes) grow in clusters. Most adults have between 10 and 40 common moles. These growths are usually found above the waist on areas exposed to the sun. They are seldom found on the scalp, breast, or buttocks.
Although common moles may be present at birth, they usually appear later in childhood. Most people continue to develop new moles until about age 40. In older people, common moles tend to fade away.
Another name for a mole is a nevus. The plural is nevi.
What does a common mole look like?
A common mole is usually smaller than about 5 millimeters wide (about 1/4 inch, the width of a pencil eraser). It is round or oval, has a smooth surface with a distinct edge, and is often dome-shaped. A common mole usually has an even color of pink, tan, or brown. People who have dark skin or hair tend to have darker moles than people with fair skin or blonde hair. Several photos of common moles are shown here, and more photos are available on NCI's What Does a Mole Look Like? page.
common moles of size 1 to 5 millimeter
Examples of common moles. The mole at the upper left is 1 millimeter in diameter (the width of the tip of a sharpened pencil), and the other moles in the upper row are 2 millimeters in diameter (the width of the tip of a new crayon). The moles in the second row are slightly larger (up to 5 millimeters in diameter, which is the width of a new pencil eraser).
For size comparison: pencil tip 1 millimeter, crayon tip 2 millimeters, pencil eraser 5 millimeters in diameter. 10 millimeters equals 1 centimeter.
Objects for comparison. The tips of a pencil, a crayon, and a pencil eraser are shown for comparison with the examples of common moles.
Can a common mole turn into melanoma?
Yes, but a common mole rarely turns into melanoma, which is the most serious type of skin cancer. (See Questions 8 and 9 for a description of melanoma.)
Although common moles are not cancerous, people who have more than 50 common moles have an increased chance of developing melanoma (1).
People should tell their doctor if they notice any of the following changes in a common mole (2):
The color changes
The mole gets unevenly smaller or bigger (unlike normal moles in children, which get evenly bigger)
The mole changes in shape, texture, or height
The skin on the surface becomes dry or scaly
The mole becomes hard or feels lumpy
It starts to itch
It bleeds or oozes
What is a dysplastic nevus?
A dysplastic nevus is a type of mole that looks different from a common mole. (Some doctors use the term "atypical mole" to refer to a dysplastic nevus.) A dysplastic nevus may be bigger than a common mole, and its color, surface, and border may be different. It is usually more than 5 millimeters wide (1, 3). A dysplastic nevus can have a mixture of several colors, from pink to dark brown. Usually, it is flat with a smooth, slightly scaly, or pebbly surface, and it has an irregular edge that may fade into the surrounding skin. Some examples of dysplastic nevi are shown here. More examples are on NCI's What Does a Mole Look Like? page.
This dysplastic nevus has a raised area at the center that doctors may call a “fried egg” appearance.
This dysplastic nevus has a raised area at the center that doctors may call a “fried egg” appearance.
This dysplastic nevus is more than 5 millimeters in diameter.
This dysplastic nevus is more than 5 millimeters in diameter.
This dysplastic nevus is more than 10 millimeters wide (a little less than 1/2 inch).
This dysplastic nevus is more than 10 millimeters wide (a little less than 1/2 inch).
A dysplastic nevus may occur anywhere on the body, but it is usually seen in areas exposed to the sun, such as on the back. A dysplastic nevus may also appear in areas not exposed to the sun, such as the scalp, breasts, and areas below the waist (1, 3). Some people have only a couple of dysplastic nevi, but other people have more than 10. People who have dysplastic nevi usually also have an increased number of common moles.
Can a dysplastic nevus turn into melanoma?
Yes, but most dysplastic nevi do not turn into melanoma (1, 3). Most remain stable over time. Researchers estimate that the chance of melanoma is about ten times greater for someone with more than five dysplastic nevi than for someone who has none, and the more dysplastic nevi a person has, the greater the chance of developing melanoma (1, 3).
What should people do if they have a dysplastic nevus?
Everyone should protect their skin from the sun and stay away from sunlamps and tanning booths, but for people who have dysplastic nevi, it is even more important to protect the skin and avoid getting a suntan or sunburn.
In addition, many doctors recommend that people with dysplastic nevi check their skin once a month (2, 4). People should tell their doctor if they see any of the following changes in a dysplastic nevus (2):
The color changes
It gets smaller or bigger
It changes in shape, texture, or height
The skin on the surface becomes dry or scaly
It becomes hard or feels lumpy
It starts to itch
It bleeds or oozes
Question 12 describes how to examine the skin.
Another thing that people with dysplastic nevi should do is get their skin examined by a doctor (2, 4). Sometimes people or their doctors take photographs of dysplastic nevi so changes over time are easier to see (2). For people with many (more than five) dysplastic nevi, doctors may conduct a skin exam once or twice a year because of the moderately increased chance of melanoma. For people who also have a family history of melanoma, doctors may suggest a more frequent skin exam, such as every 3 to 6 months (3).
Should people have a doctor remove a dysplastic nevus or a common mole to prevent it from changing into melanoma?
No. Normally, people do not need to have a dysplastic nevus or common mole removed. One reason is that very few dysplastic nevi or common moles turn into melanoma (1, 3). Another reason is that even removing all of the moles on the skin would not prevent the development of melanoma because melanoma can develop as a new colored area on the skin (2). That is why doctors usually remove only a mole that changes or a new colored area on the skin.
What is melanoma?
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that begins in melanocytes. It is potentially dangerous because it can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body, such as the lung, liver, bone, or brain. The earlier that melanoma is detected and removed, the more likely that treatment will be successful.
Most melanocytes are in the skin, and melanoma can occur on any skin surface. It can develop from a common mole or dysplastic nevus, and it can also develop in an area of apparently normal skin. In addition, melanoma can also develop in the eye, the digestive tract, and other areas of the body.
Skin Cancer Moles Skin Cancer Pictures Moles Symptoms Sings On Face Spots On Nose Photos Types Pics Wallpapers Pics
Skin Cancer Moles Skin Cancer Pictures Moles Symptoms Sings On Face Spots On Nose Photos Types Pics Wallpapers Pics
Skin Cancer Moles Skin Cancer Pictures Moles Symptoms Sings On Face Spots On Nose Photos Types Pics Wallpapers Pics
Skin Cancer Moles Skin Cancer Pictures Moles Symptoms Sings On Face Spots On Nose Photos Types Pics Wallpapers Pics
Skin Cancer Moles Skin Cancer Pictures Moles Symptoms Sings On Face Spots On Nose Photos Types Pics Wallpapers Pics
Skin Cancer Moles Skin Cancer Pictures Moles Symptoms Sings On Face Spots On Nose Photos Types Pics Wallpapers Pics
Skin Cancer Moles Skin Cancer Pictures Moles Symptoms Sings On Face Spots On Nose Photos Types Pics Wallpapers Pics
Skin Cancer Moles Skin Cancer Pictures Moles Symptoms Sings On Face Spots On Nose Photos Types Pics Wallpapers Pics
Skin Cancer Moles Skin Cancer Pictures Moles Symptoms Sings On Face Spots On Nose Photos Types Pics Wallpapers Pics
Skin Cancer Moles Skin Cancer Pictures Moles Symptoms Sings On Face Spots On Nose Photos Types Pics Wallpapers Pics
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