Moles smaller than the diameter of a pencil eraser are less likely to be cancer. If a mole is bigger than a pencil eraser, it is not necessarily cancerous, but it should be evaluated. However, if any mole on your skin shows signs of change, that can indicate a problem. A change in size or color for example might be the only sign that it is cancerous. Please take the time during your next check up to have a total body skin exam.
If your primary care physician does not feel comfortable evaluating your skin, request a referral to a dermatologist who can check your skin for abnormal moles. Curtis C. Common moles, dysplastic nevi, and melanoma vary by size, color, shape, and surface texture.
The list below summarizes some differences between moles and cancer. Another important difference is that a common mole or dysplastic nevus will not return after it is removed by a full excisional biopsy from the skin, but melanoma sometimes grows back. Also, melanoma can spread to other parts of the body.
People should tell their doctor if they find a new mole or a change in an existing mole. A family doctor may refer people with an unusual mole or other concerns about their skin to a dermatologist. A dermatologist is a doctor who specializes in diseases of the skin. Also, some plastic surgeons, general surgeons, internists, cancer specialists, and family doctors have special training in moles and melanoma. Although anyone can develop melanoma, people with the following risk factors have an increased chance of melanoma 1 :.
Sunlight : Sunlight is a source of UV radiation , which causes skin damage that can lead to melanoma and other skin cancers. Severe, blistering sunburns : People who have had at least one severe, blistering sunburn have an increased chance of melanoma. Although people who burn easily are more likely to have had sunburns as a child, sunburns during adulthood also increase the chance of melanoma.
Lifetime sun exposure : The greater the total amount of sun exposure over a lifetime, the greater the chance of melanoma. Tanning : Although having skin that tans well lowers the risk of sunburn, even people who tan well without sunburning increase their chance of melanoma by spending time in the sun without protection. Sunlight can be reflected by sand, water, snow, ice, and pavement. The sun's rays can get through clouds, windshields, windows, and light clothing.
In the United States, skin cancer is more common where the sun is strong. For example, a larger proportion of people in Texas than Minnesota get skin cancer. Also, the sun is strong at higher elevations, such as in the mountains. Sunlamps and tanning booths : UV radiation from artificial sources, such as sunlamps and tanning booths, can cause skin damage and melanoma. Health care providers strongly encourage people, especially young people, to avoid using sunlamps and tanning booths.
The risk of skin cancer is greatly increased by using sunlamps and tanning booths before age Personal history : People who have had melanoma have an increased risk of developing other melanomas. Family histor y: Melanoma sometimes runs in families. People who have two or more close relatives mother, father, sister, brother, or child with melanoma have an increased chance of melanoma.
In rare cases, members of a family will have an inherited disorder, such as xeroderma pigmentosum , that makes the skin extremely sensitive to the sun and greatly increases the chance of melanoma. Skin that burns easily : People who have fair pale skin that burns easily in the sun, blue or gray eyes, red or blond hair, or many freckles have an increased chance of melanoma. People can protect their skin from the sun by following the tips on NCI's Sunlight risk factor page. The best way to prevent melanoma is to limit exposure to sunlight.
Having a suntan or sunburn means that the skin has been damaged by the sun, and continued tanning or burning increases the chance of developing melanoma. Menu Contact Dictionary Search. Understanding Cancer. What Is Cancer? Cancer Statistics. Cancer Disparities. Cancer Causes and Prevention.
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Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Treatment. Pediatric Supportive Care. Rare Cancers of Childhood Treatment. Childhood Cancer Genomics. Study Findings. Metastatic Cancer Research. Intramural Research. Melanoma borders tend to be uneven and may have scalloped or notched edges, while common moles tend to have smoother, more even borders. C is for Color. Multiple colors are a warning sign.
While benign moles are usually a single shade of brown, a melanoma may have different shades of brown, tan or black. As it grows, the colors red, white or blue may also appear. D is for Diameter or Dark. Some experts say it is also important to look for any lesion, no matter what size, that is darker than others.
Rare, amelanotic melanomas are colorless. E is for Evolving. Any change in size, shape, color or elevation of a spot on your skin, or any new symptom in it, such as bleeding, itching or crusting, may be a warning sign of melanoma. E is for Evolving Before. E is for Evolving After. Please note: Since not all melanomas have the same appearance, these photos serve as a general reference for what melanoma can look like. Coronavirus Information for Patients. Clinical Trials during Coronavirus.
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