I know you’ve been told that most skin moles are harmless. And I’m not going to tell you otherwise. But, what if there’s a mole on your body that has the potential to turn into melanoma? What should you do then? If this is something of concern for you, consider a few things when identifying and treating skin moles. Luckily in NY, you’ll find competent skin mole specialists who will help with the proper treatment. Thus, if you have a mole in New York, visit a reliable center. The pointers below cover some common misconceptions about skin moles to help educate people about these types of issues.
The Darker the Skin, the Higher the Protection Factor
I’ve always heard that dark-skinned people are less likely to get skin cancer. Unfortunately, this is simply untrue. The truth of the matter is that skin moles found in darker-skinned individuals will be harder to see, and therefore, more difficult to spot or identify when compared to their fair-skinned counterparts. For these reasons, those with darker skin tones are more likely to have an increased risk of developing melanoma.
The Older a Mole is, the Higher the Chances of it Being Cancerous
It doesn’t necessarily mean that a skin mole’s chronological age is directly connected to its health status, instead, they both happen over time. A 50-year old mole may not be any better or worse than a 10-year old mole. It’s also important to note that the risk of melanoma is only slightly increased with age.
Skin Moles are Just “Normal” Variations in Skin Color
It’s true, and each person has different skin colors in varying areas of their body. Some have dark skin near their eyes, while others have it on their genitals. But what you should be aware of are the skin moles that appear in one area or that progressively increase/decrease in size or color.
If you wear sunscreen and stay out of the sun, your moles shouldn’t have any pigment loss. So, unless a mole grows in size or changes shape/color/appearance, there’s no reason to remove it. I always suggest that individuals watch their moles regularly, but they should do so without worrying about the potential removal of benign moles.
Moles that Bleed are Always Harmful
Simply bleeding isn’t enough to indicate a dangerous mole. The key is to monitor any changes in bleeding, size, shape, and color. Fortunately, most moles don’t fall into this category and therefore don’t pose a threat to an individual’s health.
All Skin Moles Require Removal
This is not necessarily true. Some moles shouldn’t be removed, like those with hair growing out of them (hypertrichosis). It doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be monitored, only that they shouldn’t be removed. Skin cancer is efficiently treatable when caught early, regardless of the type. The only exception will be if the melanoma has spread to other parts of the body.
There are many misconceptions when it comes to skin moles. The most important thing to remember is that you should watch the moles regularly for any changes in size, shape, color, or appearance. If a mole does change, bleeds, or grows in size, it’s best to consult with a doctor to determine if it is harmful.
