{"id":2857,"date":"2019-01-18T05:57:15","date_gmt":"2019-01-18T05:57:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=2857"},"modified":"2021-03-23T14:08:29","modified_gmt":"2021-03-23T14:08:29","slug":"9-tips-to-early-spot-cancerous-moles-on-your-skin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/9-tips-to-early-spot-cancerous-moles-on-your-skin\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Tips to Early Spot Cancerous Moles on Your Skin"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The sudden appearance of a mole on the skin (or the change in a current one) can be a pretty scary experience.
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The first thing that you should know is that not all moles are necessarily cancerous, but all moles have the potential to become cancerous, so it\u2019s important to keep an eye on your skin, any moles that you know you might have and any changes that might occur.
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Cancerous moles have a few characteristics that set them apart from moles that aren\u2019t harmful; usually, any type of drastic change in the appearance of a mole should warrant a closer look by a medical professional to establish whether or not the mole has the potential to be dangerous.
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If you have a family history of cancers or spend a lot of time in the sun, consider yourself at an increased risk.
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Here are 9 tips to spot potentially cancerous moles on the skin early.
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1. Changes in Shape<\/strong>
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If you have a mole that changes shape over time or suddenly appears to be a different shape than it was when you last looked at it, then it might be a reason for concern. As a rule, moles on the skin aren\u2019t supposed to change \u2013 and any kind of change in the appearance of a mole\u2019s shape is a sign that you should get it looked at and potentially removed even if it isn\u2019t found to be a cancerous <\/a>one.
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If you start to notice your moles changing in shape, start to document it by taking pictures of the mole every day. After a few days of this, make an appointment with your doctor and show them the pictures of the change in the order it occurred.
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This can be a big help to your doctor when it comes to establishing what to do next, and it\u2019s likely that your doctor will either request that the mole be tested, removed or both.
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2. Dry Spots<\/strong>
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The moles themselves aren\u2019t the only things that you should be paying attention to when they change. You should also be taking note of any changes that occur on your skin since this can be a good indicator of what\u2019s going on with the rest of your health.
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Combined with some of the other symptoms on this list, any changes in your skin are important to note; sometimes it might just be a simple skin irritation causing it, but other times (especially when combined with some of the other symptoms mentioned here) it can be cause for concern.
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If your skin develops flaky, dry spots where you have no reason to have developed eczema or allergies <\/a>overnight, it might be one of the early warning signs of skin cancer and should always be taken seriously as a symptom, even though it seems like it\u2019s just one of those \u201csmall things.\u201d
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3. Rashes<\/strong>
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There are a thousand-and-one different things that can cause a rash<\/a>, from something as simple as an allergy to the type of washing powder you\u2019ve been using through to something more serious like kidney malfunction or increased liver enzymes \u2013 and you shouldn\u2019t jump to conclusions that a rash could be one thing or the other when you\u2019re going by a rash alone.
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If you can combine changes in your moles in any way, shape or form with a sudden rash, the two things might be related and both could be early warning signs of skin cancer or cancerous moles.
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Should this be the case, you might need to make an appointment with a dermatologist to discuss the potential cause of the rash and mole changes as well as the potential treatment options from that point in, even if the moles and rash aren\u2019t related at all.
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It\u2019s always better to be safe when it comes to your health.

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4. Mole Color Changes<\/strong>
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If your moles <\/a>suddenly change color, you should make an immediate appointment with your doctor and this should be the first thing you mention to them. You should also mention any other symptoms (even ones not on this list) that you might have been experiencing around the same time during your doctor\u2019s appointment: A detailed list always helps a doctor to make an easier and faster diagnosis.
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If potentially cancerous, your moles might change color \u2013 and they might appear darker or lighter than they were before. If you aren\u2019t sure whether you\u2019re imagining things and if they really are changing color, it\u2019s a good idea to start taking daily pictures of your moles to see if there\u2019s any visible change over time when the images are compared.
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It seems like a tedious process, but it can do a lot for your health when cancerous moles are spotted and removed early.
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5. Changes in Feeling<\/strong>
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Any changes in the way your moles appear are always a sign that you should report to your doctor, but you should also take note of any changes in how the moles feel even if there\u2019s no change in their outward appearance.
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Generally speaking, moles aren\u2019t supposed to hurt \u2013 and when they suddenly do, you should try and find the cause behind it. Sometimes it might be clothing that hooked on the mole and caused some discomfort, which will usually make it appear irritated and red \u2013 but if this persists and it\u2019s not a simple issue of the mole getting irritated<\/a>, then you have more cause for concern and should make an appointment with your doctor.
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Changes in feeling can go either way, and you might find that the mole becomes either less or more sensitive than before. In either case, you should make an appointment with your doctor for this.
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6. Changes in Size<\/strong>
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If your moles look like they\u2019re getting any bigger or smaller, start documenting this every day by taking pictures of the moles on your body. Remember to include something for scale so that you know if there\u2019s actually been any change in size \u2013 yes, it can help to actually measure the diameter and indicate it with a marker.
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You should do this by default if you have a family history of cancers or a history of any other cancers yourself; if you have sensitive skin<\/a> and have spent some time in the sun, the same happens to be true. It seems tedious, but it could save your life.
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Any type of change in size when it comes to your moles is a reason to see your doctor. While it\u2019s true that it might be nothing, it\u2019s a chance that you really shouldn\u2019t risk when it comes to your health.
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7. Skin Sensitivity<\/strong>
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Skin sensitivity should be a serious cause for concern if you\u2019re showing several of the symptoms on this list, or if you\u2019ve noticed any serious overall changes in your health that have made you think to make an appointment with a doctor.
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It\u2019s the type of thing that you should make an appointment with your doctor for sooner rather than later; sometimes skin sensitivity can signal something simple like sunburn, but other times it could indicate something more serious like an early warning sign of underlying cancer \u2013 especially when it\u2019s combined with several symptoms <\/a>at once.
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Note any type of skin sensitivity that feels new and doesn\u2019t go away. Men should take note of tenderness surrounding breast tissue and testicles, too \u2013 and women should ensure they do their regular breast examinations, especially if they\u2019re at an increased risk of developing cancer.
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Sometimes skin sensitivity is nothing, but it\u2019s always better to be sure instead.
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8. Skin Color Changes<\/strong>
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Color changes that you should watch out for aren\u2019t just limited to moles alone, but you should also watch for any potential color changes in your skin overall.
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If you can combine several changes on this list with each other, see your doctor immediately. \u00a0If your skin <\/a>and moles are changing color or feel any different than they normally do, see your doctor immediately. If you have a family history of cancer and you tick any of the symptoms or signs on this list, you should see your doctor.
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Even if you don\u2019t tick any of the criteria above, you should make an appointment with your doctor at least once every six months to ensure that you\u2019re in good health. Like most health conditions, warning signs of cancer are best spotted early on.
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The majority of cancers aren\u2019t that hard to treat, but it\u2019s key that they\u2019re spotted and treated as soon as possible.
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9. Itching<\/strong>
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Moles shouldn\u2019t itch, and neither should the skin around it.
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This doesn\u2019t necessarily mean that the moles are cancerous, but it\u2019s a good reason to take a closer look if you have a family history of cancer, if you can\u2019t find another cause for the itch or if you\u2019re showing several of the symptoms on this list at once.
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Itching of the skin can sometimes be because of several different factors, and sometimes it\u2019s something small like the wrong fabric, a food allergy <\/a>or an allergy to washing powder or soap \u2013 but if your moles are changing, it\u2019s likely that it\u2019s not this simple.
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Itching moles mean that something is changing, even though you can\u2019t necessarily see it, and you should resist the urge to scratch, pull at or further irritate the mole. Leave it completely alone and make an appointment with your doctor so that it can be removed and\/or the proper tests can be done so that you can be sure.
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