Can melasma turn into melanoma?

Melasma is not cancerous, a sign of cancer, or a skin condition that “turns into” cancer. However, there are skin cancers that may mimic melasma, so seeing your dermatologist is often recommended to confirm the correct diagnosis.

Can hyperpigmentation lead to skin cancer?

Unevenly pigmented skin is not necessarily harmful, but people with sun damaged skin do carry a higher risk of developing skin cancer due to excessive UV radiation exposure.

Does hyperpigmentation cause melanoma?

The discoloration is caused by increased amounts of the pigment (melanin) and the cells that produce this pigment (melanocytes) in and around the eyes. Patients with this type of birthmark are at a higher risk of developing a melanoma cancer of their eye or central nervous system.

Do melasma spots get bigger?

Generally, melasma looks more like a patch, the size of a dime or larger and often times, if it is present on one side of your face, it will be present on the other. It is generally only found on the face. It is believed that melasma is caused by estrogen interaction with certain environmental factors.

How can you tell if you have skin cancer from age spots?

Spots that become asymmetric, have borders that shift, get darker or lighter, or change in diameter should be checked for skin cancer. Speed of changes. Age spots tend to shift from pink to yellow to tan to brown over several years. Spots that are changing more rapidly should be evaluated.

Melasma: mistakes that make it worse

What does Stage 1 melanoma look like?

Stage IA Melanoma: The melanoma tumor is less than 1.0 millimeter thick (less than the size of a sharpened pencil point) with or without ulceration (broken skin) when viewed under the microscope. Stage IB Melanoma: The melanoma tumor is more than 1.0 millimeter and less than 2.0 millimeters thick without ulceration.

What does early stage melanoma look like?

What to look for: Usually, the most obvious warning signs of early stage melanoma are changes to your moles or spots: in size, shape, colour or in how they look or how they feel. Melanoma can also appear as a new mole (more commonly in people aged 50 years or more)².

Are sun spots melanoma?

These spots are called “actinic lentigines,” which are more commonly referred to as sun spots, age spots, or liver spots. These small, gray-brown spots aren't a type of skin cancer. They also don't progress to become skin cancer and don't require any treatment.

Will melasma spread?

Melasma is more common in people of colour and those who tan very quickly but can occur to anyone. Melasma usually becomes more noticeable in the summer and improves during the winter months.It is not an infection; therefore, it is not contagious, and it is not due to an allergy.

What is the root cause of melasma?

When you expose your skin to UV light, it triggers the body to produce more pigment. Sometimes, this pigment appears unevenly, causing the blotchy patches and freckle-like spots of melasma.

Is melasma cancerous?

Melasma is not cancerous, a sign of cancer, or a skin condition that “turns into” cancer. However, there are skin cancers that may mimic melasma, so seeing your dermatologist is often recommended to confirm the correct diagnosis.

What are the warning signs of melanoma?

Other melanoma warning signs may include:

Pigment, redness or swelling that spreads outside the border of a spot to the surrounding skin. Itchiness, tenderness or pain. Changes in texture, or scales, oozing or bleeding from an existing mole. Blurry vision or partial loss of sight, or dark spots in the iris.

Where does melanoma usually start?

Melanomas can develop anywhere on the skin, but they are more likely to start on the trunk (chest and back) in men and on the legs in women. The neck and face are other common sites.

How can you tell the difference between skin cancer and sunspots?

Here's one of the major differences: sunspots tend to crop up on areas of your skin that have had a lot of sun exposure over the years. On the other hand, melanoma — the fastest growing and most deadly form of skin cancer — can appear anywhere, even in areas with no sun exposure or limited exposure to UV rays.

How can you tell if a brown spot is cancerous?

The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred. The color is not the same all over and may include shades of brown or black, sometimes with patches of pink, red, white, or blue. The spot is larger than ¼ inch across – about the size of a pencil eraser – although melanomas can sometimes be smaller than this.

When is hyperpigmentation cancer?

Hyperpigmentation often appears 2 to 3 weeks after chemotherapy treatment begins and goes away as new skin cells replace the dead cells at approximately 10 to 12 weeks after treatment is over. However, this darkening may occasionally be permanent.

Is melasma caused by liver damage?

Risk Factors for Developing Melasma

Malnutrition may be a contributing factors because melasma is often found in people with abnormal liver function and vitamin B12 deficiency. Cosmetics containing hydroquinone may cause dark patches, like melasma.

Can melasma be permanent?

Most people with melasma do not need treatment. Melasma may fade away slowly if you stop taking birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy. If melasma appeared while you were pregnant, it may go away a few months after you have the baby.

How do you stop melasma from spreading?

The best way to prevent melasma from coming back or getting worse is to avoid the sun. Ultraviolet (UV) rays act on certain cells in your skin to actually increase pigment production, which in turn makes your melasma worse.

Is melanoma raised or flat?

The most common type of melanoma usually appears as a flat or barely raised lesion with irregular edges and different colours. Fifty per cent of these melanomas occur in preexisting moles.

What do melanomas look like on the skin?

Border that is irregular: The edges are often ragged, notched, or blurred in outline. The pigment may spread into the surrounding skin. Color that is uneven: Shades of black, brown, and tan may be present. Areas of white, gray, red, pink, or blue may also be seen.

Can melanoma look like age spots?

Age spots don't require medical care. Have your doctor look at spots that are black or have changed in appearance. These changes can be signs of melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer.

Are melanomas always dark?

Melanoma often contains shades of brown, black, or tan, but some can be red or pink, such as the one shown here.

How long does it take for melanoma to spread?

Melanoma can grow very quickly. It can become life-threatening in as little as 6 weeks and, if untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body. Melanoma can appear on skin not normally exposed to the sun. Nodular melanoma is a highly dangerous form of melanoma that looks different from common melanomas.

Can you have melanoma for years and not know?

How long can you have melanoma and not know it? It depends on the type of melanoma. For example, nodular melanoma grows rapidly over a matter of weeks, while a radial melanoma can slowly spread over the span of a decade. Like a cavity, a melanoma may grow for years before producing any significant symptoms.