Beauty marks can certainly be beautiful. “But sometimes a mole can convert to something serious like melanoma,” says Rex Amonette, MD, vice president of the Skin Cancer Foundation. “Regular skin checks by a doctor are key to catching suspicious moles early.” These pictures will help you identify an unhealthy mark.
A harmless mole
Looks like: A symmetrical mark uniform in color with smooth borders; it’s usually smaller than a quarter-inch.
Need to know: They crop up in early childhood. Study your spots once a month when you do a self-exam. Talk to your doctor if any change shape, color, or elevation, or bleed, itch, or crust—possible signs of skin cancer.
Melanoma
Looks like: An asymmetrical mole with uneven borders that tend to be scalloped; it’s larger than a pencil eraser and may contain two or more shades of black, brown, red, white, or blue. It can be a new mole or one you’ve had.
Need to know: Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer since it can spread to other parts of the body. Caught early, it’s curable.
Actinic keratosis
Looks like: Small crusty or scaly bumps or patches that can be tan, pink, red, or flesh-colored. They have a rough texture and may itch or feel tender to the touch.
Need to know: They are precancerous growths that usually develop on your face, lips, ears, scalp, neck, forearms, and backs of your hands. They don’t always turn into cancer but should be removed when detected.
Basal cell carcinoma
Looks like: A reddish patch, pearly pink, red, or white bump, or sore that bleeds, oozes, or stays open for several weeks or heals and then comes back again.
Need to know: Unlike melanoma, basal cell carcinoma doesn’t crop up in existing moles. Instead, it forms from skin damaged by sunburns and UV rays. If caught, it’s easy to treat and isn’t life-threatening.
Squamous cell carcinoma
Looks like: A thick, rough, wartlike growth, a scaly red patch with irregular borders, or an open sore that crusts or bleeds.
Need to know: They don’t crop up in existing moles and are most common on the face, lower lip, neck, arms, scalp, backs of the hands, and ears in people with fair complexions. Typically squamous cell carcinoma can be cured if caught early.
Comments (6)
i had a small basal by my eye it had a crust i couldn’t peel off and went away a while then came back so i went it and it was a basal had it removed by the mohls procedure
How were did you heal after mohls procedure Hope all is well for you anna
that is sick
Skin cancer has quickly become one of the fastest growing health panaceas in the world. I recently read that the incidents of skin cancer in the UK had just overtaken that of Australia. (Unbelievable!) Anyway, thanks for bringing this timely and important topic to the community. My Squidoo page about skin cancer at http://www.squidoo.com/symptoms-and-dangers-of-skin-cancer might add a little to your discussion but I learned a few new things myself on your page.
I am covered with moles.. a couple hundred at least counting my back, legs and arms. the dark brownish black raised one. Grew up in so calif, lots of sun, swimming, horseback riding, camping fishing, etc..
I just had one on leg removed because it is melanoma. The mole raised a bit higher and border did not change at all but it got dry and scaled a little. It bled but I think I caught it with the razor while shaving… so watch those moles!
is that first picture like exactly what it looks like at first????