Contents:
- Medical Video: 7 Early warning signs and hidden symptoms of Skin Cancer
- What is the difference between a normal mole and a mole that is characteristic of melanoma cancer?
- Check your skin
- How do I prevent cancerous moles?
Medical Video: 7 Early warning signs and hidden symptoms of Skin Cancer
Moles are a common skin condition that often appears in most people. Some moles appear from birth, although they usually appear in the first 30 years. Although it might interfere with the scenery, the mole is usually completely harmless. Most moles are benign, aka not cancerous. But in a number of rare cases, moles can become malignant melanoma, one type of skin cancer. What are the mole marks that are characteristic of skin cancer?
What is the difference between a normal mole and a mole that is characteristic of melanoma cancer?
Melanoma cancer usually appears as dark spots like ordinary moles and develops very quickly on the skin. Melanoma can appear in areas that have never had a mole, or from moles that change in size, shape, or color. In some cases, melanoma is red, itchy and can bleed. This is the most effective way to detect cancer moles.
Check your skin
You should check your skin every few months to see if a new mole appears or if there is a change in an existing mole.
Cancerous moles are new growths that can appear in any part of the body, but most often appear on the back, legs, hands and face. Some of the suspicious moles that you should pay attention to are:
- One mole that has 2 or more different colors
- Uneven moles or jagged edges
- Moles that are bleeding, itchy, red, swollen, or crusted
- Moles that grow rapidly
When diagnosed and treated at an early stage, surgical removal of a melanoma is usually successful. Surgery is often used as the main treatment for melanoma. After surgery, you will need the right follow-up treatment to prevent the return of melanoma. It is important to follow the doctor's instructions.
How do I prevent cancerous moles?
If you have just had a mole removed or have light-colored skin that is prone to the growth of moles, you must take extra preventive measures to protect the skin from the sun. Sun protection is the best and easiest way to prevent skin cancer. Here are some tips to help you with light-colored skin or have lots of moles that are often at high risk for skin cancer. If you have a lot of moles, you should avoid being in the sun for too long, by:
- Take shelter in the shade between 11am - 3pm.
- Using UV protective clothing, hats and sunglasses.
- Use sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 15 and reuse every 2-3 hours, after swimming or sweating.
- Avoid using solar lights or sunbed which produces UV light.
If your mole has been around since you were born and hasn't changed, don't worry. Always remember to pay attention to changes to the skin and protect the skin from the sun.
