Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, both in the United States and across the globe. While all skin cancers are serious, melanoma comes with the highest risk of death because it grows rapidly and aggressively invades other tissues.
The good news? When detected early, melanoma is highly curable. The five-year survival rate for patients whose melanoma is treated promptly is over 99%. Fortunately, it’s also easy to spot when you know what to look for: unusual skin changes or an atypical mole.
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. For board-certified dermatologist Dr. Patrick Keehan and our team at Keehan Dermatology, it’s an ideal time to take a look at the characteristics that make a mole “risky” and in need of expert evaluation ASAP.
Moles are the most common skin growth. While most babies are born without a single mole, the average person has one to three dozen of these small, pigmented spots by the time they reach adulthood. Some people wind up with many more moles on their skin.
Moles can appear anywhere on your body, but they’re more likely to develop on skin that’s frequently exposed to sunlight, like your face, neck, arms, and shoulders. You’re more likely to get moles if you spend a lot of time outdoors, especially if you’re fair-skinned.
Most moles are normal, but normal moles don’t all look the same. Some are pigmented (tan, brown, or black), while others may match your skin tone. Many normal moles don’t change at all, but some become slightly raised over time, gradually lighten, or slowly fade away.
The term melanoma means “black tumor.” Melanomas can develop as a scaly patch, an open sore, or an abnormal raised bump. It can also appear in the form of an atypical mole.
Nearly one in three melanomas (about 30%) begin in existing common moles. These aggressive cancers arise from the pigment-producing skin cells (melanocytes) that give your skin and your moles their color.
Any mole that appears to undergo “atypical changes” should be considered a red flag warning for melanoma — one that calls for prompt evaluation by Dr. Keehan. The best way to spot risky moles early? Learning the ABCDE method of atypical mole identification:
Normal moles are round or oval with well-defined borders. An atypical mole may have an irregular shape or asymmetry that sets it apart from other moles on your skin. One side of an atypical mole may not mirror, or match, the other side.
Normal moles have smooth, crisp edges. Atypical moles are more likely to have uneven edging, or borders that appear notched, scalloped, or poorly defined.
Whether they’re tan, brown, black, or skin-toned, normal moles are usually a uniform color. Atypical moles, on the other hand, may appear mottled with more than one color.
Any mole that has more than one shade of tan, brown, or black should be evaluated by Dr. Keehan; a mole with spots of red, blue, or white may indicate the presence of a growing melanoma that requires prompt assessment.
Normal moles come in various small sizes: some look like a fine pencil dot, while others look like a full marker spot. Any mole that’s a quarter of an inch in diameter or larger — equal to or greater than the size of a pencil eraser — is atypical, and should be checked by Dr. Keehan.
Normal moles commonly change, but they do so slowly — often over the course of many years or even decades. Risky, atypical moles tend to evolve rapidly, changing in noticeable ways over the course of a few weeks or months.
Remember, any observable transformation in a mole’s size, shape, or color is cause for concern, especially if that evolution is rapid. A bleeding, itchy, or crusting mole can also be a sign of melanoma, as can a new mole that suddenly appears after the age of 30.
Are you worried about an atypical mole? We’re here to help. Contact Keehan Dermatology in Fort Worth, Texas, to schedule a skin cancer screening today.
