How are moles on your skin related to cancer?

Can mutate: A mole can remain normal your whole life or it can mutate and turn into a skin cancer. The carcinogenic effects of long-term uv radiation can cause mutations in the mole to form into a cancer. There is also a hereditary factor that increases the risk of an individual to form skin cancer.

ABCD's: Remember your abcd's when thinking of melanoma. Look for moles with asymmetry boarders that are irregular color differences within the same mole diameter greater than 6mm also any new mole or old that starts to itch, bleed or ulcerate should be of concern. Another rule is the ugly duckling rule. Which refers to a mole that looks distantly different from the others on your body.

Moles and cancer: Moles & melanoma, one form of skin cancer, come from same cells in skin, melanocytes, that make a pigment (melanin) that gives skin its tan/brown pigmentation. Melanocytes are also in the eye, inner ear & heart. Moles are benign collections of melanocytes. Some moles, like large congenital moles can develop melanoma. Most melanomas develop on normal skin. Any changing mole needs to be examined.

Have new ones checkd: Although changes in our skin are normal as we age, if u notice new changes that r concerning have them looked at by your regular doctor. Most benign skin changes are easy to identify by looking at them. Skin cancer identification is defined by the a, b, c's. A- asymmetric shape. B- borders that are irregular, c-color (multiple colors are concerning) there are some more features but these r basics.