Summary
By definition, a mole is a lesion that's located on or under a person's skin. The medical term for it is 'melanocytic nevus', as it contains nevus cells. Moles are typically acquired during the early stages of an individual's life, sometimes vanishing during the middle age.
The average person may have somewhere between 10 and 40 moles. The most common kinds are raised moles, flat moles, and skin tags. Those that lie in the dermis are embedded in the skin whereas those that on or covered by the epidermis are situated on the skin's outer layer. They're usually benign and range in size, although most of them are oval and not much larger than a pea or raisin. However, some of them, such as the displastic nevus, may resemble malignant skin lesions since they are discolored with an amorphous shape.
What is melanoma?
Some moles are melanoma which are harmful tumors that are a type of skin cancer. Although it's less common than other kinds of skin cancer, it's considered the deadliest form. Diagnosis tends to be more prevalent in females that reside in warm climates, as excessive exposure to the sun is one of the top causes of melanoma. Fair-skinned individuals with light colored hair and eyes are also more at risk.
What are causes of cancerous moles?
While ultraviolent (UV) light exposure may be the most typical cause of cancerous moles, there's also other ways to become afflicted with melanoma. Tanning beds are another common cause, as well as extreme exposure to x-rays. Additionally, those who have impaired immune systems from taking various medications at once are more susceptible to fall victim to melanoma. Frequent contact with chemicals in oil, soot, and tar are contributers as well.
How are cancerous moles diagnosed?
Dermotologists are skin specialists that are most likely to detect melanoma. They may run diagnostic tests if they see symptoms, such as darkish blue coloring and irregular shaped moles, on the skin. Most indications are easy to spot with the naked eye, and it's important to act on clues early to prevent mestasis, or the spread of cancer to other organs.
What treatments are available for cancerous moles?
There's several forms of treatment for cancerous moles that are often performed by nuclear medicine technologists or plastic surgeons. Many individuals choose to undergo cosmetic surgery to have their mole(s) removed. Some endure chemo and/or immunotherapy while radiation therapy is recommended for others.
Check out some skin cancer blogs for more information on cancerous moles.
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