Identifying Skin Cancer Moles

Since it is the largest organ in your body, your skin deserves a special degree of care. It is responsible for providing you protection from harmful toxins, the rays of the sun, and excesses of heat and cold. It is also one of the most vulnerable areas of your body, as the growing instances of skin cancer around the world clearly demonstrate. The early signs of skin cancer are not always readily apparent, making early detection and treatment difficult for many people. However, if you have moles, they can often provide an early warning system of cancerous growth. Knowing how to identify skin cancer moles can allow you to seek early treatment for the condition.

Skin cancer is now the single most prevalent form of cancer afflicting human beings, with more than a million cases diagnosed annually in the United States alone. Because cancers occur due to rapid uncontrolled growth of cells, skin cancer moles can appear relatively quickly in areas where no mole had previously been, or can simply occur at the site of a longstanding mole. These tumor masses can spread to other areas of your skin and become serious to the point of being fatal if they are not detected and treated.

Skin cancer moles generally form from dysplastic nevi – otherwise known as abnormal moles. A nevus, or mole, is nothing more than a skin growth with pigmentation. They are very common growths and come in a variety of colors and shapes. Most moles are completely harmless; in fact, the vast majority of them never become cancerous melanoma. The average person has between a dozen and three dozen moles at any given time, though most are too small to be of much concern. The vast majority of those are flat, with smooth surfaces, and of the same color as the surrounding skin. People who are familiar with their moles are usually able to determine when one changes shape or color – the most common sign that moles have become skin cancer moles.

Skin cancer moles have several attributes that serve as tell-tale signs that something is amiss. To begin with, abnormal dysplastic nevi not only become darker than other moles, but also tend to incorporate more than one color in their make-up. They also tend to lose their oval or round shape, as the edges of the mole take on a blotchy or faded appearance.

It is a good idea to perform a self-screening for skin cancer moles on a regular basis – as often as once each month. Examine each mole in a mirror and look for changes in color, size, or shape. Other signs of irregularity can include bleeding, itchiness, or tenderness in the area surrounding any mole. Since most moles remain benign throughout their life, chances are that your screening is merely good preventative care. On the off chance that you do notice irregularities, however, do not hesitate to make an appointment with your physician. He or she can perform a more thorough test to determine whether skin cancer moles exist, and can move to remove any moles that pose a health threat.

In 2009, I had a mole on my face that was dark with an irregular shape. I went to a dermatoligist, who looked at it and claimed it was non cancerous. He also said, if I wanted, he could remove it while I was there in the office.

I said sure, and he used a laser, and I guess he burned it off. It smelled bad while he was doing it, and he gave me a local anesthetic so I would not feel any thing. He put a band aid on it, and said it would heal up fine. I went home, put bacitracin on it every day for about a week, and now you can not even tell I had a mole there on my face. The whole thing cost less than $100.00 to get done.

But I can tell you, I am not a fan of laser, especially when it was up against my face!

I would now suggest trying something all natural first, as in this guide at: http://www.clearskin4u.com .