Did you know that, on average, adults have between 10 and 40 common moles on their bodies? In most cases, these moles are perfectly harmless and remain constant and quiet companions throughout our lives.
If, however, you have a new mole or a mole that’s changing color and/or size, this can be a sign of skin cancer, which is diagnosed in more than 3 million Americans each year, which makes it the most common cancer.
At Orange Coast Dermatology, our team has a good deal of experience in helping our clients to stay one step ahead of skin cancer. To that end, we want to touch on some of the early warning signs of skin cancer, including melanoma, which include size and color changes in moles.
As we mentioned, moles are incredibly common, and most of us have a couple dozen on our bodies. Common moles usually start to develop in childhood but can continue to form well into adulthood, up until about the age of 40.
We want you to pay close attention to moles when there are any changes to existing moles (and when new moles develop) and if any of them check the ABCDE boxes, which include:
Most common moles on your body are relatively symmetrical, which means that one half is shaped and colored like the other half. With potentially problematic moles, there's asymmetry, and the mole has an irregular shape in which the two sides don’t match up.
If the border of your mole isn’t well defined and, instead, it’s ragged or uneven, you should have us check it out.
Most common moles range in color from pink to dark brown, and this color stays steady. If you have a mole that’s changing color or you develop one that features different shades of brown or black, as well as unusual colors, such as red, white, gray, and blue, this could point to skin cancer.
Common moles are usually ¼-inch or less. If you have a mole that’s growing larger than this, it’s a good idea to have us take a look.
This last characteristic is a general category for changes in the mole — any time you have a mole that changes in size, shape, or color, please bring it to our attention.
In fact, we even have a name for moles that you should investigate further — the ugly duckling. This is any mole that behaves and looks differently from other moles on your body.
Our overriding goal here is to help you recognize the earliest stages of skin cancer, which are the most treatable stages. Though skin cancers remain mostly contained, we’re more worried about melanoma, which can spread to other tissues and organs in your body. One of the most common signs of melanoma is an irregular mole.
So, with that in mind, if you have a mole that’s changing size and/or color, don’t wait to come see us. Please contact one of our offices in Rancho Santa Margarita, Orange, or Mission Viejo, California, today to schedule an appointment.
