What does it mean if a mole is pigmented?
A “pigmented lesion” is a general term that includes normal moles, sun freckles or age spots (lentigines). While most pigmented lesions will not become cancerous, if you have many lesions or unusual lesions you should see a dermatologist on a regular basis for a full skin examination.
What color mole is cancerous?
If the border isn’t smooth, you should get your mole checked out. Benign moles are usually one uniform color throughout. They can be brown, or black or pink, as long as they are one single color. Cancerous or pre-cancerous moles are multicolored.
Can skin cancer look like pigmentation?
Skin cancer can be tricky in other ways, too. For example, melanoma is a type of skin cancer that is often pigmented tan, brown, black, even blue. But amelanotic melanoma lacks pigment and appears as a skin-tone or pink lesion.
What are the five early warning signs of melanoma?
The “ABCDE” rule is helpful in remembering the warning signs of melanoma:
- Asymmetry. The shape of one-half of the mole does not match the other.
- Border. The edges are ragged, notched, uneven, or blurred.
- Color. Shades of black, brown, and tan may be present.
- Diameter.
- Evolving.
What is a cancerous mole called?
Technically speaking, a cancerous mole is known as a melanoma, or a type of skin cancer that develops in the skin’s pigment producing cells called melanocytes. Although melanoma only accounts for about 1% of all skin cancers, it’s the deadliest kind, outranking both basal and squamous cell skin cancers.
Can a common mole turn into skin cancer?
Yes, but a common mole rarely turns into melanoma, which is the most serious type of skin cancer. One reason is that very few dysplastic nevi or common moles turn into melanoma (1, 3).
What is the difference between benign and malignant moles?
Benign moles are not cancerous while malignant ones are. By evaluating the ABCDE signs, you can know if the raised mole is cancerous or not. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. Benign melanoma is what forms the moles whereas malignant melanoma is one that poses a risk.
Why don’t doctors remove all moles to prevent melanoma?
Another reason is that even removing all of the moles on the skin would not prevent the development of melanoma because melanoma can develop as a new colored area on the skin ( 2 ). That is why doctors usually remove only a mole that changes or a new colored area on the skin. What is melanoma?