Skin Cancers and Moles

Watch out your moles! The fast increase of skin cancers in the recent years is worth to attention. I wanted to make some reminds about the moles since, in general, the skin cancers originate from the underestimated moles. The moles may be in any zone of the body. They are known as melanocytic nevus in medical literature and happen to occur due to the increase of the pigment cells (which give color of the skin) also known as melanocytes. They may be flat or projecting. They may be in color scale from pink to black.

Generally they are aesthetic problems; however may cause physical complaints in joints of the body or in parts vulnerable to traumas. Particularly the dark colored moles may turn to cancers under harmful rays of the sun for long years. In medical examination, biopsy is taken from big and doubtful moles for final diagnosis.

The moles may come with birth but generally happen to occur in childhood ages. The moles become darker when subjected to sun and in pregnancy. They lose their color in adult ages and may totally diminish in older ages.

Mole types: Birth Pigmented Nevus: A mole present in birth is called as congenital pigmented nevus. They are spotted in 1% of the babies. Dimensions may vary from a couple of millimeters to sizes that cover big areas on body. Particularly the big sized ones have the risk to turn to a skin cancer called melanoma.

Halo nevus: The perimeters of some moles are surrounded with a white ring. These types of moles may be seen in childhood and adulthood ages. They are not harmful; the mole and the white ring disappear in time. Sometimes the color change may be spotted for the melanoma skin cancer, thus, biopsy may be required in case of doubt.

Freckles: These are small, light brown skin spots without any projection. They are generally seen in light skinned persons. In general, they increase in numbers and get darker in color in the summer months.

Extraordinary moles: These have a view abnormal. They have irregular sides, employ big sizes and frequently resemble the melanoma skin cancer. Due to their bothering appearance, they may be taken surgically even if not necessary in medical terms. The persons having extraordinary moles are posed to melanoma risks particularly if their family history includes melanoma cases.

The Situations Requiring Mole Treatment:

* In case of cancer risks: If the structure of a mole is irregular, if it expands and if it changes color then it should be treated.
* If a mole is in a position open to be damaged by comb, dresses or razor, it should be taken out.
* They may be treated due to cosmetic needs in accordance with the will of the person.

Treatment Methods

Biopsy in form of shaving: A mole projecting from the skin may be treated easily under this method. The mole shall have an upper level than the skin. If the base of the mole reaches to the dermicyn lower layers, this treatment may not be applied. After the skin is sedated with local anesthesia, the mole is taken out with a surgical blade or cutter. The scar recovers leaving a straight white mark. At the recent times, we only perform this action by using laser.

Surgical extraction of the mole: This method is used if the mole is deep or if there is a doubt of skin cancer called as Melanoma. It takes 10-25 minutes, depending on the size of the mole, under local anesthesia. The mole depth is fully extracted from the skin. The extracted mole is sent to the pathological examinations.

You may check your moles! It is recommended for every individual to cause examination of his/her moles with monthly periods. Asymmetry of the moles, border irregularities, color change (mole including more than one color), apparent enlargement, infection reactions or bleeding may be the signs of skin cancer. Besides, in case a different viewed and fast growing pigmented lesion is spotted, one shall immediately consult to a specialist doctor.

The persons with higher risk of skin cancer shall be more careful. The persons having light skin color, light eye color, red-blonde hair or the persons who easily are subject to sunburns. The persons who have been exposed to intense and direct sunlight for long times or in intervals. The persons whose families include individuals with skin cancer malign melanoma. The persons having atypical viewed displastic nevus. The persons having big numbers of moles from the birth. At the last years, the malign melanoma risks have increased 2 times more and new diagnosis methods are developed in turn. Dermatoscopy is the microscopy of the skin surface; it is used in diagnosis of the moles and other pigmented lesions. This method examines the lipid skin surface with dermatoscope which provides a lighted magnification. Till a couple of years, the monitoring of the moles used to be performed by taking the photos of the dermatoscopic images. However, the computerized technology is adapted to this method and the digital dermatoscopy is obtained.

What are the advantages of the digital dermatoscopy? This method generates the map of the body moles and thus, the point localization of the moles is at hand. Then, dermatoscopic view is taken for each mole is taken and recorded. So, we have the chance to compare the former images with the images to be obtained in future controls. Digital dermatoscope mathematically calculates the doubtful changes monitored in the moles and generates an index showing the malign melanoma risks. This index is helpful in diagnosis and in planning of the treatment. While the early stage melanoma diagnosis chance is 60% with naked eye, the digital dermatoscopic examination pulls the same to 90%s.

Is the taking of the moles harmful? “Do not accept the medical operation on moles; it is very harmful”. This is the most frequent and most erroneous sentence I have heard from my patients in my 23 years of medical career. I wonder how many lives have been lost because of this wrong legend. If the moles are monitored where the doubtful ones are taken on time and sent to laboratory analysis, the skin tumor development risks are terminated. We do not leave any single cell that has the capability of generating reaction afterwards in that zone, in the body.

A malign mole is not harmful when extracted but, on the contrary, when left in its place. Trust only your doctor on such issues, and, do not believe the untrue murmurs.

Protection: Particularly the persons with moles on the zones of the body that are open to sun effects shall regularly use 15-30 protection factor sun lotions. Dermatoscopic examination and scaling via six months and annual controls will be very useful.

I wish days full of beauty in which moles do not bother you.