Normal moles and freckles are typically smooth and don’t feel rough or bumpy when you go over your skin with your finger. Skin cancers, on the other hand, are often raised (although conversely, just because it’s raised doesn’t automatically mean it’s a sign of skin cancer!).
Are all moles smooth?
Moles are usually brownish, but some may be much darker, while others are skin-colored. They can be rough, flat, raised, and have hair growing out of them. They are generally round or oval, and have a smooth edge. Moles can change in appearance and amount.
Is melanoma flat or bumpy?
The most common type of melanoma usually appears as a flat or barely raised lesion with irregular edges and different colours.
What do normal moles look like?
A normal mole is usually an evenly colored brown, tan, or black spot on the skin. It can be either flat or raised. It can be round or oval. Moles are generally less than 6 millimeters (about ¼ inch) across (about the width of a pencil eraser).
Are all bumpy moles cancerous?
Although very few moles become cancer, abnormal or atypical moles can develop into melanoma over time. “Normal” moles can appear flat or raised or may begin flat and become raised over time.
Can moles become raised?
At first, moles are flat and tan like a freckle, or they can be pink, brown, or black in color. Over time, they usually enlarge and some develop hairs. As the years pass, moles can change slowly, becoming more raised and lighter in color. Some will not change at all.
What moles should you worry about?
If you have any moles that are larger than most, have smudgy or irregular edges, are uneven in colour or have some pinkness, you should see a doctor and get them checked. Any moles that appear newly in adulthood should be checked. The most concerning sign, however, is a changing mole.
What does an early stage melanoma look like?
Melanoma borders tend to be uneven and may have scalloped or notched edges, while common moles tend to have smoother, more even borders. C is for Color. Multiple colors are a warning sign. While benign moles are usually a single shade of brown, a melanoma may have different shades of brown, tan or black.
What can Melanoma be mistaken for?
Amelanotic melanomas can resemble other skin cancers like basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma, or worse, may be mistaken for benign moles, scars or cysts.
What happens if you pick a mole off?
Scratching off a mole will probably cause some bleeding, but should not require medical treatment. However, if a mole continues to bleed, it should be examined by a dermatologist. Note however, that a growth on the skin that continually bleeds may be a warning sign of skin cancer.
Can moles appear suddenly on the body?
Moles, or nevi, typically form during childhood and adolescence, but new moles can appear in adulthood. Although most moles are noncancerous, or benign, the development of a new mole or sudden changes to existing moles in an adult can be a sign of melanoma.
How do you check moles?
How to check your moles
- Stand in a well-lit room.
- Use a full-length mirror and a hand mirror to check your body all over.
- Make sure you check hard to see places such as your back, buttocks and scalp. …
- Check the less obvious places too, like your underarms, in between your fingers and the soles of your feet.
What kind of moles are bad?
Malignant melanoma, which starts out as a mole, is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, killing almost 10,000 people each year. The majority of melanomas are black or brown, but they can be almost any color; skin-colored, pink, red, purple, blue or white.
Are Raised moles dangerous?
The vast majority of moles are not dangerous. Moles that are more likely to be cancer are those that look different than other existing moles or those that first appear after age 25. If you notice changes in a mole’s color, height, size, or shape, you should have a dermatologist (skin doctor) evaluate it.
What are symptoms of melanoma Besides moles?
Other melanoma warning signs may include:
- Sores that don’t heal.
- Pigment, redness or swelling that spreads outside the border of a spot to the surrounding skin.
- Itchiness, tenderness or pain.
- Changes in texture, or scales, oozing or bleeding from an existing mole.
Can a mole change and not be cancer?
Yes, but a common mole rarely turns into melanoma, which is the most serious type of skin cancer. Although common moles are not cancerous, people who have more than 50 common moles have an increased chance of developing melanoma (1).