What do benign moles look like?

While benign moles are usually a single shade of brown, a melanoma may have different shades of brown, tan or black. As it grows, the colors red, white or blue may also appear.

How can you tell if a mole is benign?

If you look at a benign, or harmless, mole, it is usually symmetrical. On the other hand, a worrisome mole is asymmetrical, meaning if you cut in half, the two sides do not look the same. Benign moles typically have a regular, round border. Cancerous moles tend to have irregular borders.

What does a benign skin mole look like?

The most common types of benign mole include: Compound melanocytic nevi, which are usually raised above the skin, light brown and sometimes hairy. Dermal melanocytic nevi, which are usually raised, pale and sometimes hairy. Junctional melanocytic nevi, which are usually brown, round and flat.

What do early cancerous moles look like?

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. Diameter: There is a change in size, usually an increase. Melanomas can be tiny, but most are larger than the size of a pea (larger than 6 millimeters or about 1/4 inch).

Can a benign mole turn into cancer?

A benign mole can sometimes develop into skin cancer. Skin cancer arising from a benign mole is malignant melanoma, which is a very dangerous type of skin cancer that can be fatal if not treated early.

Mole or Melonoma? -- The Doctors

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.

When you should worry about a mole?

The moles that are of medical concern are those that look different than other existing moles on your body (referred to as the “ugly duckling sign”) or those that appear on your skin after age 30. If you notice changes in any mole's color, thickness, size, or shape, you should see a dermatologist.

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.

How do you know if a mole is cancerous?

Redness or new swelling beyond the border of a mole. Color that spreads from the border of a spot into surrounding skin. Itching, pain, or tenderness in an area that doesn't go away or goes away then comes back. Changes in the surface of a mole: oozing, scaliness, bleeding, or the appearance of a lump or bump.

What color are cancerous moles?

While benign moles are usually a single shade of brown, a melanoma may have different shades of brown, tan or black. As it grows, the colors red, white or blue may also appear.

What do benign skin growths look like?

Most people have some kind of benign skin growths such as freckles and moles, which may multiply or darken over time. Other benign skin growths include: Dermatofibromas – Small, firm, red or brown bumps caused by an accumulation of fibroblasts (soft tissue cells under the skin).

Can a mole look like melanoma but be benign?

A dysplastic or atypical nevus is a benign (noncancerous) mole that is not a malignant melanoma (cancerous), but has an unusual appearance and/or microscopic features.

Are Raised moles normal?

Normal moles

A normal mole is usually an evenly colored brown, tan, or black spot on the skin. It can be either flat or raised. It can be round or oval.

When should a mole be checked?

What does Stage 1 melanoma mean?

Stage I Melanoma

This is a noninvasive stage, which is also called melanoma “in situ,” meaning “in its original place.” With stage I melanoma, the tumor's thickness is 1mm or less. This tumor may or may not have ulcerated, and it isn't yet believed to have spread beyond the original site.

Do benign moles itch?

Moles can be raised or flat. Raised moles can rub against your clothing and become irritated. This irritating can make them itch. Most moles are normal, and they're usually harmless.

Can a doctor tell if a mole is cancerous just by looking at it?

A visual check of your skin only finds moles that may be cancer. It can't tell you for sure that you have it. The only way to diagnose the condition is with a test called a biopsy. If your doctor thinks a mole is a problem, they will give you a shot of numbing medicine, then scrape off as much of the mole as possible.

What makes a mole suspicious?

Spread of color from the border of a spot to the skin around it. Redness or a new swelling beyond the border. Itchiness, tenderness or pain. Change in the surface of a mole — scaliness, oozing, bleeding, a new bump or nodule.

What does a melanoma spot look like?

a large flat or slightly raised brown or black patch, similar to an age spot or freckle. having a smooth surface and irregular shape. having a brown hue, though it can also be red, pink, or white on occasion, depending on skin tone. a larger patch, usually at least 6 millimeters.

What does an atypical mole look like?

Atypical moles can also be flat or raised. They also have these characteristics: They measure more than 1/4 inch (5 mm) across — larger than the size of a pencil eraser. They are irregularly shaped, with uneven borders that may fade into the skin around the mole.

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.

Are melanomas always black?

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

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.

Can you get new moles as you age?

As we age there is still a chance of new moles appearing, especially when spending significant time in the sun. While not all new spots after the age of 25 will be cancerous, it is always important to monitor any skin changes. Moles can last for a number of years and may even have hairs growing from them.

How does melanoma make you feel?

You may lose your breath, have chest pain or noisy breathing or have a cough that won't go away. You may feel pain in your liver (the right side of your stomach) Your bones may feel achy. Headaches that won't go away.