Stay out of the sun until all signs of redness have gone. Should I cover up my mole when I'm in the sun? If you have lots of moles or freckles, you're more likely to develop skin cancer, so you need to take extra care. Avoid getting caught out by sunburn. Use shade, clothing and sunscreen with an SPF of at least Keep an eye out for changes to your skin and report these to your doctor without delay. Source: NHS. Lead author Simone Ribero, of the department of twin research and genetic epidemiology at King's, said: "The findings could have a significant impact for primary care, allowing GPs to more accurately estimate the total number of moles in a patient extremely quickly via an easily accessible body part.
Consultant dermatologist and study co-author Veronique Bataille said if a patient was worried about an abnormal mole and went to see their GP, counting moles on one arm "might ring alarm bells" and highlight those patients who should be seen by a specialist more quickly.
Dr Claire Knight, health information manager at Cancer Research UK, said the study findings were helpful, but added that fewer than half of melanomas develop from existing moles. Skin cancer guidelines updated. Most 'unaware' of skin cancer signs. Drug mix 'shrinks deadly cancers'. It is when a mole changes quickly that it is worth getting it seen by a doctor.
Look out for rapid changes in shape, fuzzy edges developing, growing larger or bleeding easily. Most moles have only one or two colours, whereas cancerous moles — melanoma s — can be an uneven mixture of light brown, dark brown, black, red or pink. Ragged edges, very large moles and bleeding, itching, swollen, crusty or inflamed moles all warrant a visit to the GP. But while the overall outlook is good, it depends on what stage the cancer has reached when it is detected, and therefore whether it has had time to spread.
Non-melanoma skin cancer is far more common, but rarely spreads. You should be referred to a skin specialist within a few weeks, who will examine the mole, and check your skin for other moles. If they think you have melanoma, they will usually perform what is called an excision biopsy, which means they will remove the entire mole and a 2mm margin around it for good measure, and check afterwards whether it is malignant cancerous. Pay careful attention to changes in the size, shape or color of moles anywhere on your skin.
Not all melanomas will have all the above characteristics, so if you notice any of them, make an appointment with a dermatologist. Most moles do not need to be treated, but sometimes dermatologists remove moles. There are several reasons your mole may be removed, including:. Your mole is bothering you; your clothes might rub against it and cause irritation, or it might be in a spot that is prone to being touched often. There are two common procedures used to remove moles — surgical excision and surgical shave.
With an excision, the dermatologist cuts out the whole mole and stitches the skin if necessary. During a surgical shave, dermatologists use a scalpel to remove the mole. Some people are tempted to just cut off a mole at home.
This is dangerous, and you should never do it. If your mole has cancerous cells, you may not get all the cancer when you cut the mole, and you may even cause cancer cells to spread. If you cut the mole yourself, you will never know whether it was cancerous or not, which may give the cancer time to spread beyond your skin and affect other parts of your body before you notice skin changes.
You may also cause an infection in your skin or blood stream, and you could disfigure your skin, leading to a scar. Dermatologists are trained to remove moles in the safest, most effective way possible. So, if you have a mole you would like to have removed, make an appointment with a dermatologist and ask him or her to remove the mole for you.
Dermatologists are skin experts who can help you assess your risk of skin cancer. They know what normal skin looks like, and they see moles — normal, atypical, congenital, spitz nevi, and malignant — every day. They understand the risks of skin cancer and what signs to look for, and they can help you learn what to look for too.
Your dermatologist will guide you about how often you should have professional skin exams, and he or she can show you how to do your own monthly skin self-exam. If your doctor finds any suspicious moles, he or she can remove it or them and perform tests to find out whether the removed tissue contains cancerous cells. Call today to schedule an appointment with a Beaumont dermatologist or to get a referral.
While acquired moles will not all look the same — not even on the same person — they do usually share certain characteristics, including: They tend to be a single color. Use your right arm as your test area. This is usually accessible for most people and you can see it easily. It was also identified in both men and women as being highly predictive. Look for moles of all sizes, shapes, and colours. Even if they are tiny like a freckle you should count it. You may also see some skin discolorations — take note of them, but it may be tricky to include them in your count unless they are very distinct.
Start counting at your wrist and move around the arm and upwards towards the elbow. Count the entire arm up to where it meets the shoulder.
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