Most people with moles rarely think anything of them, but this absence of attention can lead to skin problems. While these features are usually harmless, they can potentially develop into cancerous growths if left unchecked. Keeping a close eye on your moles is a critical part of ensuring that your skin is healthy and cancer-free.
Located in Windermere FL, Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center is committed to providing our clients with the highest quality of preventative, diagnostic, and surgical skin care available today. Contact us today for more information about monitoring your moles, or to schedule a skin cancer screening consultation.
How Common are They?
The vast majority of people have at least one mole somewhere on their bodies: while it’s typical to have at least 10, some individuals have as many as 40. Moles usually first appear during childhood, but they can continue to develop throughout the teen and adult years. These spots are typically dark and brown, and can come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
How Can I Tell if They’re Healthy?
Moles can vary drastically in color, size, and shape, but a shared characteristic of healthy ones is that they usually do not change in appearance over time. If you suddenly develop a mole in your adult life or notice that one of your them has begun to change, scheduling a skin cancer screening is a necessary step you need to take to protect your skin.
It’s vital that you have these new or evolving moles checked out because they indicate a change in the ways your skin cells grow and develop. Any change in the color, size, or shape of your moles can be an indicator of this, and a sign that your moles are either cancerous or precancerous.
How Can I Prevent Them From Becoming Cancerous?
The best way to avoid skin cancer is to monitor your moles, both at home and during yearly skin evaluations. A skin cancer evaluation can establish an important precedent of your skin’s health for both you and your dermatologist. Consistent monitoring on your own ensures that you’re intimately familiar with your moles, so you can better realize if any changes are taking place.
The sooner you get suspicious moles checked out, the better. Skin cancer has an incredibly high success rate of treatment if caught early, and treatment is relatively simple in its beginning stages. If left untreated and unaddressed, skin cancer has the potential to spread to other parts of the body.
Contact Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center today to schedule a skin care consultation. Our team of dermatology experts can help provide you the information, guidance, and treatment you need to have healthy, cancer-free skin.