There are a huge number of types of moles. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification there are several hundred of them. How can an ordinary person who has nothing to do with medicine figure out how dangerous his mole is? At least roughly? There are several signs that we will talk about today.
I would like to point out right away that this article is not intended to help you diagnose yourself. Its main purpose is to reduce any tension you may have that has arisen after independently studying information about melanoma on the Internet.
Bad Signs
Rapid growth of a mole
What does "fast" mean? Which one is slow then? Without answers to these questions, almost any mole on the body can be safely classified as melanoma, because almost every one of them increases by a couple of millimeters over the course of a lifetime.
By fast, I mean an increase in the size of a mole faster than 1-2 mm per year. This is a very conditional border, because There are melanomas that grow more slowly, however, in my opinion, most of these tumors will show a growth rate that exceeds this value.
Color change
The production of pigment by the cells of a benign mole can normally lead to its darkening. On the other hand, proliferation of melanoma cells can also occur. How to distinguish one from the other? In my opinion, there are 2 ways.
The first is the speed at which the color change occurs. A benign mole has the right to darken a little over the course of several years.
The second is melanoma, unlike the latter, it will most likely have more than 2 colors, for example, light brown, black, red, white.
3.Change shape
There are a huge number of irregularly shaped moles, but only a very small proportion of them will turn out to be melanoma. Irregular shape usually means asymmetry along 2 axes in combination with an edge in the form of a “coastline on a map.”
I would not like to dwell in more detail on the bad signs. Everyone who could has already written about them. Today we will dwell in more detail on what types of
Moles: to remove or not to remove?
Let's draw a clear line. Moles are benign growths on the skin (nevi) that do not pose a threat to our health. Potentially dangerous moles are nevi, which can, under unfavorable circumstances, degenerate into a malignant melanoma tumor. Melanoma is an oncological pathology with an extremely unfavorable prognosis if diagnosed untimely.
When we talk about a “dangerous mole,” we mean a formation on the skin, the nature of which is unknown to us. It may be a common nevus, a precancerous condition, or melanoma.
Do dangerous moles need to be removed? Melanoma is treated by oncologists, and any other recommendations within the article are inappropriate. A benign nevus can be removed if it poses a cosmetic problem or a hidden threat, that is, it can develop into cancer under the influence of risk factors. It is important to know what factors increase the risk of a mole degenerating into a malignant tumor.
Unfavorable factors include hereditary predisposition (family history of melanoma), fair skin, and regular exposure of the skin to ultraviolet radiation. We must not forget that ultraviolet radiation is officially recognized as a group 1 carcinogen. A risk factor is also the location of the mole, in which it is regularly injured by mechanical factors (clothing, jewelry, etc.).
Good signs
A pedunculated mole, the thickness of which is no more than 2-3 mm
A distinctive feature of malignant tumors is the unlimited division of their cells. This property does not allow such neoplasms to have a “leg”. Unfortunately, this sign cannot guarantee that the formation is benign. In the literature, about once every 10 years there are indications of pedunculated melanoma.
Long-term existence of a mole without changes
If a mole exists from birth or 5, 10, 20, 30 or more years and at the same time! nothing! has not changed - with a high probability, everything is fine with her. This sign is not unconditional. It must be remembered that a long-existing mole is not immune from turning into melanoma, but its chances are, in any case, less.
Presence of hair on the surface of the mole
In fact, hair does not grow from a mole, but grows through it. Hair roots (hair follicles) are usually located deeper. If hair grows from a mole, this means that the cells of the mole still retain their functions. They can form “channels” for hair growth and “pass” it through the mole. This sign also does not 100% “insure” that the mole is actually melanoma. Fortunately, in my practice there was only one exception to this rule.
The skin pattern on the surface of the mole is preserved
This sign of benignity has the same roots as the previous one. It means that the mole is covered by normal skin cells, not tumor cells. Unfortunately, like all previous signs, it is NOT always reliable.
Flesh-colored mole
Most melanomas are brown or black. Therefore, if the color of a mole is flesh-colored, it is highly likely to be benign. Answering a possible question about the non-pigmented form of melanoma, I will say that it is! Disappearing! a small part of the total number of this type of tumor.
Soft consistency
If a mole is softer than the surrounding skin, it is most likely benign. This is due to properties common to all malignant tumors. If cells divide uncontrollably, in most cases they form a compaction that stands out against the background of the surrounding tissues.
Symmetry along at least one axis, smooth edge.
More than enough has already been said about these signs; I will not repeat them.
When the sun is the enemy
Probably everyone already knows that a chocolate tan has little to do with health. Ultraviolet radiation causes DNA damage and is the main cause of malignant skin tumors. The more time a person spends exposing his body to the rays, the higher the likelihood of unpleasant consequences. The activity of the sun is also important. It is no coincidence that dermatologists strongly advise not to be on the beach between 11 and 16 hours of the day, when it is most aggressive.
By the way, many scientists associate the risk of developing melanoma with the fact that in childhood and adolescence a person often received sunburn. They cause changes in melanocytes, the pigment cells of the skin, which over time lead to malignant conditions. This also explains the fact that in almost 50% of cases, melanoma develops on the legs - they are always open in children in the summer and are most exposed to solar radiation.
Lately, there has been more and more talk about the dangers of “artificial sun” – solariums. According to some reports, one session here (which is usually 5-10 minutes) is equal to a whole day on the beach! Some European countries (Germany, France and Austria) and the state of California (USA) have even banned the use of solariums for children under 18 years of age.
Of course, the sun is a source of vitamin D and a remedy for depression, but in large quantities it is the real enemy. Otherwise, the World Health Organization would not recognize ultraviolet radiation as a carcinogen on a par with arsenic, smoking and asbestos.
Briefly about the main thing:
You should not try to make a diagnosis yourself; this should still be done by an oncologist. On the other hand, it’s also not worth making a mountain out of nothing out of the blue.
If your mole does not have a single “bad” sign, but has several good ones, you should still see an oncologist. Calmly, without haste and fuss, as time permits.
The main point of this article is not for you to be able to understand for yourself whether a mole is malignant or not. My goal is to help you not go crazy because of the horror stories you have previously read on the Internet.
If doubts still overcome you, you can ask me any question in the format of an online consultation.
Dangerous moles: diagnosis
A dangerous mole must be shown to a doctor. A dermato-oncologist is a specialist in moles and other skin tumors. If for some reason you cannot get an appointment with a dermato-oncologist, make an appointment with a dermatologist, oncologist or surgeon.
Diagnosis begins with a visual examination of the mole. An experienced doctor will give a preliminary opinion on the appearance of the formation. For a more detailed analysis, dermatoscopy is used - visual examination of the mole at 10x magnification. The final diagnosis is made by histological examination of a tissue sample obtained through biopsy.
Useful tips
How to recognize approaching trouble? How to detect early stage melanoma? Which moles are dangerous?
Helpful Tips:
- first rule. It is necessary to monitor the number and condition of benign formations;
- second rule. It is important to know the signs of dangerous moles;
- third rule. Don’t be afraid to get examined, don’t take the “tenth route” to the dermatologist’s or oncologist’s office.
What do malignant moles look like:
- formations differ sharply from others in color;
- size exceeds 6 mm (sometimes melanoma reaches a diameter of 3 cm);
- most of the warning signs of cancer rise above the skin;
- the borders are blurred, redness is often noticeable around the nevus;
- droplets of blood, clear or cloudy liquid protrude from the depths.
Folk signs and beliefs
For centuries, people have compared fates and birthmarks found on the human body.
The lucky ones are decorated with light-colored nevi, while the unlucky ones are decorated with dark ones. Hairy nevi on the left side pushed their owner onto the criminal path, on the right side they made him a highly spiritual person, ignoring worldly troubles and vanity. A nevus with hair located in the middle gave the right to choose - to join the dark side of life or to become a folk hero.
Moles on the right ear marked the favorites of Fortune, on the left - adventurers, from whom decent girls should stay away.
The mark on the waist predicted a large number of children for its owner, and if it was also located on the right side, the children would be well brought up, since their mother has considerable teaching talent.
The owners of marks on their hands are lucky themselves and share their luck with their interlocutor.
But the famous fly above the lip, which touches men and evokes the envy of women, symbolizes the sharp and tough character of its owner. Most often, a woman with a front sight is lonely and likes to throw out her negative emotions on others.
How does melanin affect the human body?
Being a powerful antioxidant, melanin is the main protector of the skin from the negative effects of ultraviolet rays. In people of classes 3 and 4, due to the sufficient amount of melanin produced by melanocytes, the likelihood of developing skin cancer is almost zero.
People with skin types 1 and 2 are at greater risk of developing cancer. But the presence of dangerous nevi and moles on parts of the body equalizes the chances of developing a fatal disease for people with any skin type.
How does this happen?
With intense tanning, the cells of the birthmark, containing scatterings of melanocytes, absorb quantum particles, i.e. significant amount of energy. The photon energy is transferred to the place where all hereditary information is stored - the cell nucleus. Processes of mutation and rearrangement begin in DNA and chromosomes, which include the mechanism for the development of a malignant process.
When a person has a strong immune system, that is, it is possible to neutralize the growth of cancer, DNA will also begin to recover. In the opposite case, the cells of the speck will begin to develop into low-quality tumors.
