You will be asked some questions about your health, family medical history, medical conditions and your symptoms. Although anyone can develop melanoma, people with the following risk factors have an increased risk of melanoma: Dermabrasion for wrinkles. American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. https://www.asds.net/skin-experts/skin-treatments/non-ablative-laser-resurfacing-for-wrinkles. Accessed Oct. 10, 2019. High WA, et al., eds. Special considerations in skin of color. In: Dermatology Secrets. 6th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Oct. 8, 2021.

Metelitsa A, et al. Laser and light therapy for cutaneous hyperpigmentation. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Nov. 21, 2019. A melanocytic naevus can be present at birth (a congenital melanocytic naevus) or appear later (an acquired naevus). There are various kinds of congenital and acquired melanocytic naevi (American spelling 'nevi'). Who gets melanocytic naevi? New melanocytic naevi may erupt following the use of BRAF inhibitor drugs ( vemurafenib, dabrafenib). The mole removal process is nothing to worry about. It is carried out easily and painlessly under a local anaesthetic. A single mole removal may take as little as 20 minutes to complete. Diameter . There is a change in size, usually an increase. Melanomas can be tiny, but most are larger than 6 millimeters wide (about 1/4 inch wide).Apply sunscreen to areas you can't cover. Choose broad-spectrum high protection (SPF 50+) sunscreens, applied frequently to exposed areas. Regular skin examinations in patients with many naevi, atypical naevi, or who have had a previous skin cancer

Tanghetti, E, MD. The role of inflammation in the pathology of acne. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2013 Sep; 6(9): 27–35. People worry about their moles because they have heard about melanoma, a malignant proliferation of melanocytes that is the most common reason for death from skin cancer. Talk with your doctor about your risk factors for melanoma and whether you need a professional skin exam on a routine basis. Protect your skinTanning: Although having skin that tans well lowers the risk of sunburn, even people who tan well without burning increase their risk of melanoma by spending time in the sun without protection. Most melanocytes are in the skin, and melanoma can occur on any skin surface. It can develop from a common mole or dysplastic nevus, but more often it develops in an area of apparently normal skin. In addition, melanoma can also develop in the eye (called uveal melanoma), under the nail, the digestive tract, and other areas of the body. Then a scan of the mole(s) or pigmented lesion(s) will be taken using a ScreenCancer dermatoscopic imaging device Sardana K, Chakravarty P, Goel K. Optimal management of common acquired melanocytic nevi (moles): current perspectives. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2014;7:89-103. doi:10.2147/CCID.S57782

Telling moles and melanoma apart is not always easy, even for dermatologists with years of training and experience. With that said, there are telltale signs that can help differentiate a benign (non-cancerous) skin lesion from potentially dangerous skin cancer. Irregular moles (dysplastic or atypical naevi) are a sign that a person has an increased risk of developing melanoma and the risk increases with the number of moles a person has. Elder DE, et al. (2020). The 2018 World Health Organization classification of cutaneous, mucosal, and uveal melanoma: Detailed analysis of 9 distinct subtypes defined by their evolutionary pathway.Most melanocytic naevithat appear in childhood remain forever. Teenagers and young adults tend to have the greatest number of naevi. There are fewer in later life because some of them slowly fade away. This abnormal sebum changes the activity of a usually harmless skin bacterium called P. acnes, which becomes more aggressive and causes inflammation and pus. When a pimple forms underneath a mole, pain and irritation will go away once the pimple clears up. To help the pimple clear-up, practice good skin care habits to reduce new breakouts.

A patient noticing a significant change in a mole or a new lesion should show this to their doctor or dermatologist You can pay a private clinic to remove a mole, but it may be expensive. How to prevent cancerous moles

Who gets melanocytic naevi?

A doctor will be able to take a closer look at a concerning spot and determine if it is in fact suspicious and warrants a biopsy, a simple procedure that involves removing a sample of the skin in question—either all of it or just a small portion—and sending it to a lab for testing. UV light from the sun or using sunbeds can change the structure of a mole and increase the chance of it becoming cancerous. This is known as melanoma. Melanoma is one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer, which can spread to other organs in the body. The most common sign of melanoma is a change in an existing or new mole. The mole may also be larger than normal and can sometimes be itchy or bleed," reveals Wong. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Start treatment. We always ensure all of our minor surgeries are delivered within strict clinical protocols by our experienced consultant dermatologists, doctors or surgeons. Have you given much thought to your skin health?