Identifying melanoma is a tricky business as it can develop anywhere on the body. Often the first signs are a change in an existing mole, the development of new pigmented skin, or an unusual-looking growth on the skin. Here is what you should look out for:
- A new growth on the skin of an adult that does not disappear in 4 to 6 weeks.
- Any skin lesion that grows larger and turns pearly, translucent, brown-black, or multicolor.
- A mole, birthmark, or beauty mark that increases in size, changes color or texture, or becomes irregular.
- An open sore or wound that refuses to heal, persists for more than 4 weeks, or heals and later reopens.
- Any skin spot or growth that continues to itch, hurt, crust over, form a scab, erode, or bleed for several weeks.
- Oozing and bleeding; a change in elevation, such as a sudden increase in height or a bump that appears on a mole.
Now, just because you have a mole doesn’t mean that you have melanoma. Moles commonly appear starting in childhood until age 40, with many individuals having 10 to 40 moles each. Moles can change in appearance over time or may simply disappear. The best way to identify an unusual mole that could indicate melanoma is through the ABCDE Melanoma Guide.
“THE ABCDE’S FOR OBSERVING MOLES AND PIGMENTED LESIONS”
Asymmetry: One half of the mole should look like the other.
Borders: Normal moles are well-defined and regular. A suspicious mole may have notched or irregular borders.
Colors: The color should be uniform. Abnormal moles have shades of different colors, including tan, black, red, white or blue.
Diameter: Normal moles are usually smaller than the end of a pencil eraser or a standard hole puncher in a piece of notebook paper; roughly 6 mm or 1/4 inch.
Evolving: Be aware of existing moles and how they look over time. A change in size, color or elevation is an indication to have moles checked by a dermatologist.”
We highly suggest that you carefully read this ABCDE Melanoma Guide provided by the Skin Cancer Foundation for more information.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is vital that you get in contact with the best dermatology and skin cancer center Myrtle Beach has to offer, Waccamaw Dermatology, right away for diagnosis and treatment.
It is important to note that melanoma can develop anywhere on the body, including places that receive little to zero exposure to the sun, such as under a fingernail, on the sole of your foot, on your scalp, or your genitals.
