There are many skin growths that can appear and moles are quite common. These will appear as dark spots on the skin. Most of the time, these are quite harmless and you will not need medical attention. But there are some instances when these moles can develop into skin cancer.
If you have a mole on your skin,
It is important to monitor it regularly to see if there are any changes to it. Some of the parameters you will need to check are the texture, shape, size and colour of the mole. There are certain factors you can consider when identifying suspicious moles. You need to look at the symmetry of the mole. Generally, benign moles tend to be symmetrical with suspicious moles being asymmetrical. It is also a good idea to visit a dermatologist if the border of your mole is irregular. Benign moles tend to have a uniform colour. If your mole has different colours such as shades of black, red or brown, this can be a cause for concern. Other factors you will need to watch for are whether the mole is larger than 6mm and if there are any changes. If you feel that you have a suspicious mole that exhibits these characteristics, it is best to have it seen by a dermatologist.
There are certain things you can do to prevent new moles from forming.
You will need to protect your skin using sunscreen with a high SPF; this should at least be higher than 30. You will also need to reapply SPF about every two hours; especially if you are sweating or if you had been swimming. You can also protect your skin using clothing such as long sleeved shirts, long pants and hats. It is always a good idea to avoid sun exposure during peak hours. If you visit a dermatologist to examine a suspicious mole, they will decide whether you need mole removal treatment or whether it has to be biopsied. A biopsy will help determine whether the mole is cancerous or not; this is done by obtaining a small sample of the mole for testing.
If the testing finds that you have moles that have a risk of developing into skin cancer, your dermatologist will ask you to come for follow-up appointments. This will allow them to monitor the moles to see whether they need treatment. You need to keep in mind that not all moles will need medical attention; not every mole will develop into cancer. Therefore, it is not essential to remove them unless you feel like it is affecting your appearance or if you feel uncomfortable because of it. There are many methods for removing a mole such as excisional biopsy, punch biopsy and shave excision. You will need to be extra careful if you have a family history of skin cancer. There are also people who have a lot of moles or atypical moles that should also be careful about monitoring.
