subject: Got an Itchy Mole? --- You Know That's Serious, Right? --- Make Sure You Get It Checked Out! As Soon As You Can! [print this page] Got an Itchy Mole? --- You Know That's Serious, Right? --- Make Sure You Get It Checked Out! As Soon As You Can!
There are various signs of malignant melanoma and basal cell carcinoma (two common types of skin cancer) and an itchy mole is one of them. A mole that is itchy must not be considered casually. Normal moles do not itch; therefore, if you have a mole that does itch, it may be a symptom of a serious skin problem. That itchy mole should be discussed with your doctor so you can get an accurate diagnosis.If you have an itchy mole, make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as you can. The longer you delay the decision to have it checked the worse your situation can get.Inspecting an itchy mole for melanoma or basal cell carcinoma is done by acquiring a tissue sample from the mole and sending it to a pathologist to be tested. If the itchy mole is found to be cancerous then the doctor will advise the removal of the mole and probably some of the neighboring tissue as well.Itchy moles do not happen very often; but if they do, it might be because of UV exposure. Use proper sun protection during the hours of ten in the morning to four o'clock in the afternoon, which is when sun rays are most damaging.As you can see suspicious moles can become cancerous, it is very important that you know the signs of skin cancer. It is also critical that you examine your moles regularly.The indicators of a potential cancerous mole are normally called the ABCD Warning Signs of Moles:Asymmetry is the AWatch for moles that when divided in half and carefully looked at, you see that the two halves don't look the same.The Border of the mole is the BYou are adviced to scrutinize the edges of your moles. If the edge is different, "ruffled", jagged or just appears very different from your other moles then this is a suspicious, and perhaps a cancerous or pre-cancerous mole. Color is the C in the ABCD FormulaIf the color varies inside the mole then you should be concerned. If the color itself has shades of reds, whites, blues, browns and blacks then you should also be concerned.D is for DiameterWhen looking at your moles take a look at their diameter (the distance across the mole). Any mole that is larger than the size of a pencil's eraser; ought to be carefully monitored as larger moles usually are more likely to be cancerous than those that are smaller than a pencil in diameter.E is for ElevationYes the ABCD's have become expanded to include E in the formula. The E is for the elevation or how high the mole is. If your mole is raised then it should be evaluated.We said it at the beginning, we'll say it again as we end, if you develop an itchy mole, know that it is serious! Make sure you get it diagnosed immediately!
