Why You Want To Get Your Moles Checked

By Author: Peter Wendt
Total Articles: 34
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Almost everyone has at least a few moles, making it easy to dismiss them as being harmless. Unfortunately, this is also why cancerous moles are commonly neglected until they have become very serious. Checking moles at home would be more reliable if it was simple to always identify the cancerous ones. The moles that are cancerous can easily be confused for normal moles, however, making a checkup necessary to rule out what may be cancer. Here's a look at normal moles, the telltale signs that they may be cancerous and the reasons for regular mole checks by a dermatologist.

Three Types of Moles

Moles can be classified into three categories: Regular, irregular and cancerous. Regular moles usually have consistent coloration and regular borders. They may be flat or raised but are normally symmetrical, small and benign. Both regular and irregular moles may be hairy.

Irregular moles, as their name suggests, have irregular shapes and borders, but they are usually flat or almost flat. They may have inconsistent coloration and may be quite large. Compared to raised, regular moles, irregular moles are much more likely ...
... to become cancerous. In fact, having more than two dozen irregular moles on the body is known to increase the risk of developing melanoma. Despite these facts, irregular moles do not always become cancerous.

ABCDE's of Cancerous Mole Identification

The basic criteria for identifying moles of concern can be remembered using the first five letters of the alphabet. A is for Asymmetrical shape. B stands for irregular Borders. C stands for multiple Colors. D is for a Diameter bigger than a pencil eraser. Finally, E stands for Evolving; in other words, moles that change over time may be cancerous and should be checked by a dermatologist.

Experts recommend self-checking for moles that fit the ABCDE criteria at least once a month and being checked by a dermatologist once a year. Many moles that become cancerous are irregular and are exposed to sun, but regular moles can also evolve and become cancerous over time, particularly with heavy sun exposure.

Early detection is vital for the best outcome. When melanoma is found and treated early on, prognosis is excellent, but when it is allowed to progress, it can become deadly. Unfortunately, the fluid nature of the screening criteria, combined with the difficulty of checking certain parts of the body, can make self-checking less dependable as a sole method of prevention. For these reasons, people who spend large amounts of time in the sun may want to visit a dermatologist more than once a year. This is particularly true for individuals with a family history of skin cancer. With the right precautions, cancer can be avoided or caught early for successful treatment and a positive outcome.

Austin, Texas has been Peter Wendt's writing headquarters for a number of years now. For readers who wish to learn more about this subject, he recommends they check out Recommended New York Dermatologist.