Cancerous skin moles are extremely common, but unfortunately most people don’t realize they have them until it’s in the late stages. If you want to be proactive with the health of your body and your skin, then it’s important to look out for the signs of cancerous skin moles. Knowing the five signs of these can make a huge difference with your skin health and whether or not you get your moles tested.
ABCDE’s of Skin Moles with Cancer
Asymmetry. When you look at your mole, is it symmetrical? If so, this is a good sign that your mole is just a growth and not a risk factor. But, if you have a mole that is asymmetrical, you might not be as lucky. A mole that doesn’t have symmetry should raise a red flag for you.
Border. The border of most healthy moles is distinct and regular. If you have a mole that has a scalloped or notched border, you might want to consider going to your dermatologist. An irregular border is easy to notice no matter what size the mole is, so check all that you have as soon as you can.
Color. Coloration in a mole is generally not a good thing. Most healthy moles are simply one shade or one color all the way around. If you have color variance, then your mole could be at risk for being cancerous. An example of a suspicious color would be a brown mole with shades of red, white or black inside of it.
Diameter. You don’t need to measure your mole, but you should be aware of how big or small it is. All you have to do is grab a pencil with an eraser and place that over the growth. If the mole is larger than that eraser, you should keep an eye on it. It’s also important to remember that some moles will grow, which means you should check size on a regular basis.
Elevation. A mole that is elevated from the rest of the skin is one that should be taken to your dermatologist right away. Flat moles are generally those that are benign, but they get more dangerous as they become raised up from the skin.
Warning Signs to Watch out for:
- If you notice that your moles are changing in any sort of way, go and see your dermatologist.
Changes in color, elevation, shape, or size can all be warning signs of skin cancer. - Check your moles every few months so you are aware of what they look like and if any are changing in their appearance. This only takes a few minutes and can potentially save your life if you were to find a cancerous mole.
Tips for Caring for your Moles:
Whenever you are unsure about a mole it’s best to go and see your dermatologist. They will be able to take a skin sample and send it into their lab to be tested. This will tell them whether it’s benign or if it has cancerous cells in it. This is a quick process that could end up saving your life, so there is no reason to avoid it.
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’][/author_image] [author_info]Rebecca Taylor writes for many websites related to health including BeHealthy24.Com. The website contains information about health care, cancer, beauty and mole removal at home.[/author_info] [/author]
