There are practically no such people in the world who would not have several small moles on their bodies. But is it worth paying special attention to these brown dots? Only a qualified specialist can distinguish a benign mole from a malignant one. After that, the doctor can give recommendations on what to do next with this neoplasm. Should I be very worried when a benign mole appears on my body? When is it necessary to seek help from specialists? What are the symptoms of cancer? If you have any suspicions about a benign mole, for example, in the case of its rapid increase in size, you should contact a medical institution where they will conduct an early diagnosis of the neoplasm. This way you can avoid serious consequences. In this article you can find information on how to distinguish a benign mole from a malignant formation, how to get rid of them on your body.
general description
The first small brown spots can form on the skin in childhood, as well as in infants. Benign moles, the photos of which are presented in this article, are a nevus that is not dangerous to human health. The basis of their formation lies in the cells melanocytes, which accumulate the natural pigment melanin in themselves. It is depending on the amount of this pigment that there may be differences in the color of these neoplasms. There are various shades of benign moles on the skin. The photo clearly shows this. The most common colors are:
- the black;
- red;
- brown;
- pink;
- blue.
The form of these neoplasms will depend on the location and localization of melanin. Moles can have a leg, and also located under the skin. They can also be convex or flat in shape. Most often there are rounded benign moles on the skin, photos of which are presented in our article. However, there are some exceptions. The development of these neoplasms provokes ultraviolet light - natural sunlight. Also, the cause of the appearance of moles on the body may be a frequent visit to the solarium. Hereditary factors should not be ruled out. The most common cause of moles on the body is a hormonal malfunction in the body, which will be characteristic of the following periods:
- menopause;
- pregnancy;
- puberty.
And now it’s worthwhile to familiarize yourself in more detail with what these formations are, and you should also familiarize yourself with the photos of benign and malignant moles on the body.
Varieties of moles
Some people find themselves very different from other neoplasms. All varieties of moles are classified according to several characteristics. Thanks to this, it is possible to carry out the correct diagnosis in case of any changes. It is customary to separate moles on the body according to the following criteria:
- by origin: newly acquired or congenital;
- in structure: vascular or pigmented;
- at the place of localization: on the surface, in depth, in the boundary layer of the skin;
- by elevation above the skin: smooth and flat, protruding in the form of a hemisphere, on the leg, large birthmarks;
- by potential threat: dangerous, which degenerate into melanoma, as well as non-dangerous.
Safe neoplasms
We continue to consider benign and malignant moles, photos of these tumors. Those people who have numerous dark spots on their bodies should be very attentive to their change. If signs of degeneration of the mole into melanoma are detected on time, then it will be possible to remove the formation in a timely manner, maintaining health. Signs of a benign mole are as follows:
- Leg available. As a rule, malignant skin cells, which randomly grow, are not able to form it.
- Continuous condition unchanged.
Speaking about the signs of a benign mole, you should pay attention to the fact that those that appeared immediately after the birth of the baby will be considered dangerous. However, attention should be paid to the fact that, normally, they should be small in size.
How to distinguish a malignant mole from a benign mole yet? As a rule, a benign neoplasm has the following characteristic features:
- skin tone;
- soft consistency;
- unchanged pattern of the skin and adjacent tissues;
- hair on the surface of the mole, which grows from the skin, indicates the absence of any pathologies;
- symmetry;
- size not more than 5 mm in diameter;
- nevus in the form of a spot.
Dangerous moles
Surely those people who have a large number of moles on their skin have repeatedly wondered how to distinguish a malignant mole from a benign one. Is there always a risk of a safe nevus degenerating into a cancerous tumor? The main signs of a malignant neoplasm on the body are as follows:
- a change in shade to the dark side, the formation of multicolor;
- a rapid increase in size when a mole in a year adds more than 2 mm;
- the appearance of cracks;
- the appearance of asymmetry due to uneven growth;
- itching and burning;
- lack of elasticity;
- uncomfortable sensations.
If you have dangerous moles on your body, this is a signal for an immediate visit to a doctor to clarify the nature of such changes, as well as to determine the likelihood of developing oncology. If you pay attention to the differences between benign and malignant moles, you can avoid possible complications. You should also pay attention to the fact that a safe neoplasm can develop into a malignant one if any pathological factors act on it. These include:
- injury to education through negligence;
- abuse of prolonged exposure to the sun, as well as the use of a solarium;
- self-removal of a mole;
- the location of the spot in the place of frequent contact with clothing: on the head, neck, genitals;
- previously removed melanomas;
- placing a mole in the hair, on the palms of the face, that is, where there is a chance of injury.
How can moles be dangerous to humans?
It should be noted that absolutely no one is immune from the sudden growth of cells of a benign mole on the skin. Melanoma is a very serious disease. If it is not detected at the initial stage of its development, then everything can end even with a fatal outcome. The main provoking factor of this is the independent unsuccessful removal of neoplasms. Therefore, it is not necessary to independently proceed with the removal of benign moles on your body. The danger of moles on the body is that they have the ability to:
- go into precancerous form;
- turn into a cancerous form;
- grow to large sizes;
- in the case of a small external change, metastases are actively spreading throughout the human body, in particular, through the lymphatic and circulatory channels.
Duration of development of melanoma from a mole
The formation of a malignant neoplasm can last completely differently. The process will depend on the stage of the disease, as well as the type of tumor. Instant metastases are considered the most dangerous. It all starts with the following:
- penetration of cancer cells into the deep layer of the epidermis;
- the penetration of cancer cells into the blood and lymph;
- the entry of cancer cells into the liver, lungs, kidneys;
- the growth of cancer cells in these organs;
- absolute damage to the human body;
- all ends with death.
Remember that only a qualified specialist can remove a benign mole. Thus, you can avoid possible unpleasant consequences and degeneration of the formation into a malignant form. Certain phases are observed in which a benign mole grows and also degenerates into melanoma. Consider them:
- Horizontal proliferation of cells. In this case, the upper layers of the skin are affected, while this phase can take up to 10 years. In this case, metastases do not form.
- Vertical proliferation of cells. Here, the spread of cancer cells through the internal organs takes place, and this phase can last for 2 years. As a rule, it has a poor prognosis for the patient.
- Nodal growth of cells. This type of melanoma formation is the most dangerous, characterized by a strong spread of cancer cells into the deeper layers of the epidermis for 2 months.
Symptoms of Melanoma
So, we have figured out how a benign mole on the body looks, and what does a malignant form look like? To provide timely assistance is possible only if the patient consult a doctor when the first changes appear. Research, diagnostics, referral to surgical therapy will save a person’s life. The very first signs of melanoma are the following:
- bleeding
- height increase;
- the appearance of secretions;
- burning, itching;
- redness;
- softening of the nevus;
- swelling of the tissues;
- thickening;
- the appearance of a crust;
- increased pigmentation near the affected area;
- hair loss.
Further, with the development of malignant melanoma, the following symptoms are observed:
- significant changes in size;
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- the appearance of soreness;
- ulceration of the surface;
- fluid separation;
- bleeding in the area of pigmentation;
- the appearance of new foci;
- compaction of the skin;
- the formation of an earthy hue;
- symptoms of metastases: weight loss, chronic cough, headaches, cramps.
The difference between moles and melanoma
To identify which neoplasms are not dangerous and dangerous, you should understand how they look externally. A person who has nevuses on his body, in order to exclude terrible consequences, must periodically monitor the formation of new moles, as well as watch for changes. One can distinguish a benign mole from its malignant form according to certain signs. As a rule, a non-hazardous formation is distinguished by the following features:
- has smooth edges;
- symmetrical;
- uniform color;
- has dimensions that do not exceed 6 mm in diameter.
That is why, if you have benign moles with uneven edges, it is possible that they began to transform into malignant melanoma. Be sure to contact a specialist if such a change occurs. So, we explained how to determine a benign mole. But what are the signs of dangerous melanoma? When the following symptoms appear, you should definitely consult a dermatologist for help:
- pronounced asymmetry of the neoplasm;
- the growth of a mole in a short period of time;
- heterogeneity in shade: the presence of interspersed several tones;
- large diameter reaching more than 6 mm;
- lack of a clear border, the line is blurred along the contour, rugged, outwardly similar to the coast on a geographical map;
- changes in any parameters: size, color, shape.
External signs of dangerous moles
What do nevuses that are subject to pathological changes look like? Only a qualified doctor can accurately distinguish a safe neoplasm from a dangerous one. You should pay attention to other disturbing symptoms:
- a blue seal under the skin, which has clear boundaries, the size is not more than 10 mm;
- nodular dangerous moles, rounded, flat in shape, shade black or brown;
- dangerous skin neoplasms are convex, often pale;
- halo nevus, which is a pigment that is surrounded by a white ring;
- dangerous connective moles that bind separate formations into a whole;
- Spitz, similar to a pink domed tumor, may have an opening through which fluid or blood exits.
Moles with jagged edges
Photos of benign moles clearly show how they should look normal. However, one of the signs of the transformation of a non-hazardous formation into a malignant one is a change in the contour. Very often, dangerous moles have blurred borders, as well as their scalloped shape. Correct diagnosis will be carried out only by a qualified specialist in a clinic. Moles with uneven borders can become dangerous to humans only if there are additional signs of melanoma formation, which are as follows:
- pronounced asymmetry;
- accelerated change in size;
- the appearance of rugged borders.
Rough neoplasms on the body
Such moles will be harmless to human health if they are no larger than 5 mm in diameter in size, and also maintain their constant parameters. Very often, the appearance of a rough mole indicates an insufficient amount of vitamins in the body, as well as a nutritional disorder. In this case, specialists advise patients to come for a consultation if the following symptoms were found:
- the appearance of tingling, itching, burning;
- smooth nevus has become rough;
- in the center there was a roughness, compaction;
- areas with different shades appeared;
- the diameter of the mole has greatly increased.
Dangerous rough moles need immediate examination in the following cases:
- the appearance of bleeding;
- rapid changes in size;
- the development of the inflammatory process;
- asymmetric formation;
- the appearance of purulent discharge;
- the appearance of pain during touch;
- irregular shape, blurred borders in the neoplasm.
Large moles
Moles on the skin, characterized by a large size, are pigmented spots. If they remain without any changes, and also do not cause inconvenience to the patient, then this phenomenon is not considered dangerous. However, it is important to constantly monitor their appearance, shade, size. To avoid unrest, you need to consult a dermatologist. At the visit, the specialist diagnoses and also gives the patient a forecast of the possible risk of developing a malignant neoplasm. Large moles are dangerous only if they:
- tightened;
- injured;
- started to itch;
- changed in shape, size;
- were unsuccessfully deleted on their own;
- bleed.
What tumors can be removed?
Quite often, nevi on the body cause patients discomfort. For example, if a mole is on the face, neck, then people feel uncomfortable in society. But even if they do not cause any concern, often removing becomes the right decision, as the appearance of the skin improves significantly. Specialists after the procedure must send tissues for histological analysis, due to which it is revealed that the mole has a malignant or benign form. If this neoplasm is not dangerous, does not change size, does not bother, then the operation will not be mandatory. But which moles should not be removed? Dermatologists believe that there are no contraindications to this procedure. However, it is necessary to choose the correct method for excising a mole on the body.
Doctors strongly recommend that patients carefully consider neoplasms on their skin. Do not use self-removal of moles. Only an experienced doctor can determine if this is a dangerous nevus, and then decides what can be done with it in the future. As a rule, the reason for removal is:
- trauma to the mole from clothing, for example, in the inguinal zone, on the neck, under the armpits;
- severe soreness when touched;
- moles are located on the head under the hair, due to which they are injured during combing or cutting;
- changes in shade, shape, shape;
- a significant increase in size;
- the appearance of itching, burning;
- bleeding and inflammation.
Contraindications for removing moles on the body
If flat nevi or hanging moles do not require early removal, it is best to carry out this procedure in winter or autumn. For aesthetic reasons, removal should be carried out in a cosmetology office, if the qualification of a specialist allows this. , . :
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Another modern method of removing neoplasms on the body is electrocoagulation. This procedure involves the use of electric current. During the operation, the specialist controls the depth of current penetration, thus not injuring healthy tissue. This procedure is used to remove moles on the body and face. This method is based on thermal damage to the skin, and after the event, the damaged area of the tissue is covered with a dry crust, which will itself disappear after 1-2 weeks.
Some people prefer to use cryodestruction to remove benign types of moles on the body when liquid nitrogen acts on the tissues at low temperatures. This gas destroys the tissue, provokes its rejection, but the skin after such a procedure is restored quickly. This method is not used to remove moles on the face. It should also be noted that cryodestruction is a cosmetic procedure, therefore it is not used if malignant and dangerous formations should be removed.