Benign Melanoma

What is Benign Melanoma

Benign melanoma might seem like a contradiction in terms. After all, most of us associate melanoma with one of the most dangerous kinds of skin cancer.

But there are many different kinds of skin cancers and growths. Not all of them include elements as dangerous as malignant melanoma symptoms.

Some of them just look bad and aren't really dangerous at all. Let's take a look at benign melanoma and how it's different from its more dangerous cousin.

Don't Be Too Worried

If you hear your doctor tell you that you have a benign melanoma, you might feel worried. But the truth of the matter is that a melanoma of this kind is actually what most of us call a mole. These growths are also called nevi, and most people have them on their skin. More info on moles.

They come in many different colors, sizes and shapes and will look a little different on every person. Almost no one has skin that's completely free of moles. Most of us even have one or two when were born, and more will show up over the course of our lives.

The older we get, the more likely we are to have melanoma of some kind on our skin. Freckles are even a kind of melanin spot.

Any mole can turn into a growth which shows malignant melanoma symptoms. But that doesn't mean that it will. Most people have a number of moles that never turn out to be cancer. Malignant Melanoma

Just remember that if melanoma happens, it will probably start out as one of these kinds of marks. Your doctor can help you understand whether or not a spot on your skin is actually likely to be dangerous.

The truth of the matter is that a melanoma of this kind is actually what most of us call a mole.

What Benign Melanoma Look Like

This kind of growth is actually a cluster of a certain type of cell. These cells are called melanocytes and they're responsible for producing pigment in our bodies. When they group together, they become a spot on the skin. They're usually brown or black, but can sometimes be pink, red, or even blue in color.

Different people will have different colored moles, although most moles are the same color on one person.

Almost all moles are round or oval, and look the same on both sides. They have an even color across the whole mole, too. That means that you might need to be concerned about moles that are different colors in different areas. They might turn out to be the more dangerous kind of melanoma.

If you don't catch them early, these moles can be damaging to your health, or even deadly.

These kinds of melanoma can be anywhere from pinhead sized to bigger than the end of your finger. They might be flat, and feel the same as the rest of your skin. They might also be raised above the skin. Benign moles are all the same level and don't grow very fast. In fact, they might not look like they're growing at all.

When Moles Go Bad

Any existing mole can turn into a dangerous one, and you might not get a lot of warning. This doesn't mean that you need to worry about every mole you have. It just means that it's a good idea to keep an eye on them.

It's smart to watch all the spots and moles on your body to see if they get bigger, change color, or change shape in a way they shouldn't. You can get your spouse or a friend or relative to help you with this. After all, some moles are hard to look at on your own. A mirror or a digital camera can help you if you don’t have access to someone willing to assist.

Another sign that a benign growth might be turning into a more dangerous one is bleeding. If you have a mole that keeps breaking open and turning into a sore, if you have a sore that won't heal, or if your mole hurts, it might be cancer.

Very big moles might also turn out to be cancerous. Most people who have moles bigger than the tip of their finger should talk about them with their doctors. Not all big moles are going to turn out to be cancer, but some of them will. It's better to be safe than sorry.

The good news is that moles aren't dangerous most of the time. Even if you're worried about a spot on your skin, testing is very likely to tell you that it's benign. Be sure to ask your doctor to check any mole that you're worried about, just in case, but be aware that the majority of tests come back with good news.

If you have a lot of moles, get them checked by your doctor once a year. This is a good way to help make sure that you don't end up with the dangerous kind of melanoma.

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