Malignant and benign moles, how to determine that there is no cancer?

1. Folk signs and beliefs
2. How the shape of a mole affects its meaning
3. The meaning of a mole on the body
4. The meaning of moles on the hands
5. The meaning of a mole on the stomach
6. The meaning of moles on the legs
7. The meaning of moles on the head
8. The meaning of a mole on the neck

Dark brown formations on the human body that carry some information about him are called moles. Depending on their placement, they can predict fate or reveal a person's true character. The ancestors believed that the color of such a formation would determine how favorable the future of its owner would be - dark ones predicted a gloomy future, and light ones, on the contrary.

But the mole did not always predict a happy life correctly; there were cases when it changed its color and shape, and all because a person, having done a good deed, changed his destiny.

There is a special science that studies moles and their influence on a person’s character and it is called moleosophy.

Dangerous moles: what are they?

Every person has birthmarks of different types, textures, colors, and shapes on their body. These harmless formations arise in the epidermis from melanocytes and grow in clusters. The scientific name of a mole is nevus. This medical term applies to all skin abnormalities. However, these so-called “floaters” can hide the most aggressive malignant tumor – melanoma. Therefore, you should know what dangerous moles are and be able to recognize the main differences between benign and malignant ones. Cancerous transformations most often occur on the basis of pigmented skin tissues.

Moles in medical terminology are called nevi. They can be found on the body of any person in the form of small round dots, small spherical formations that rise above the surface of the body, and large pigmented areas of the skin. They are formed due to the accumulation of melanocyte cells that accumulate a special natural pigment, melanin. Multiple amounts of it give the mole a darker color than the skin around it. A mole is first discovered on the skin in infancy; small manifestations of pigmentation can be seen within a week after birth (however, there are also cases of congenital formations).

An important human organ, impressive in size, is the skin. Throughout their lives, people discover a lot of new growths on their bodies. These are mainly moles and age spots. Some may be frightened by even small spots on the epidermis, and some do not pay attention to serious changes in existing problem areas for years. To protect yourself from such a terrifying disease as melanoma (skin cancer), you need to study in advance the types of moles and everything that can happen to them.

The name “melanoma” refers to a malignant tumor process. It can develop on the skin in the area where moles appear. Moles that grow unevenly, acquire a different color, have a smooth surface, or blood begins to ooze from them require constant monitoring by a doctor. Changes in moles often indicate malignant metamorphosis in the body. The growth of new moles of an unusual type is also dangerous.

Why do they appear?

Non-dangerous moles can appear under the influence of such internal factors:

• genetic predisposition;
• endocrine pathologies;
• any changes in hormonal levels.

The appearance of moles can be triggered by inflammatory and autoimmune processes occurring in the skin. In addition, such pathological elements occur after frostbite or burns, as well as with the constant use of low-quality skin care cosmetics.

Suspicious moles can also be triggered by the following external factors:

• exposure to ultraviolet radiation (during tanning, the concentration of melanin increases sharply);
• systematic violations of the integrity of the skin;
• serious exposure.

In addition, a separate factor is impaired metabolism, which can be triggered by the consumption of harmful products (fast food, genetic engineering products), smoking and other bad habits.

Reasons for the degeneration of moles into dangerous ones

Moles by themselves do not degenerate without any external influences. In order for the process of malignancy to begin, special conditions are required.

Factors that contribute to the degeneration of moles from benign to dangerous:

• Ultraviolet radiation (natural or artificial) is the main provoking factor for degeneration into melanoma
• Injury
• Hormonal surges

Note! People who are born with fair skin are more susceptible to the pathological effects of ultraviolet radiation than dark-skinned people. They should avoid direct sunlight and avoid solariums.

Classification

The types of skin tumors are determined based on their shape, color and size. Based on shape and structure, they are distinguished:

• oblong;
• round;
• flat;
• smooth;
• rough.

The color of a nevus can range from flesh-colored to red and from light brown to black. There is also a purple color.

In terms of size, formations can be small - from 1 mm - and large, the size of which is difficult to determine. There are nevi that occupy a large area of ​​the skin.

Types of moles by degree of danger

The degree of danger of birthmarks is determined by a dermatologist.

There are several types of formations:

1. Nevus. It is considered a benign birthmark. Does not cause inconvenience to humans. The shape of the nevus is simple with clear boundaries and has a constant color. The majority of nevi belong to this type.
2. Basalioma. It is considered a precancerous form of pigment formation.
3. Melanoma. A malignant type of birthmark. It can only be diagnosed in a medical facility after a thorough examination.

Structural features

Angiomas come in various shapes - they can be completely flat and slightly convex. The sizes of pigment spots also differ. They can appear on the body in the form of small pink, red dots and large spots that occupy the entire limb (arm or leg).

Simple (capillary) angiomas are smooth or convex spots of pink, purple, bright red color that turn pale when pressed. Some of them are formations with a bright red dot in the middle. From it, along the radius, the vessels diverge in the form of an asterisk.

In people, a raised pink mole may appear on the body - one of the plaques of psoriasis or elements of lichen planus. A single plaque of a reddish-brown color, already basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma at the initial stage. It peels off and has raised edges. Basalioma is characterized by a shiny surface.

Signs

Doctors recommend that people with numerous moles be attentive to their health, do not injure the neoplasms, and monitor possible changes in their appearance. There are a number of signs of an atypical mole by which dysplasia can be recognized:

• color transformation (dark inclusions, appearance of heterogeneous areas, two-color coloring);
• uncontrolled increase (over 2 millimeters per year);
• change in shape, asymmetry, blurred edges;
• change in consistency (softening);
• the appearance of cracks;
• the appearance of signs of inflammation (redness, pain) of the growth and adjacent skin;
• bleeding, crusting;
• hair loss from the surface of the mole;
• itching, burning sensation, discomfort in the area of ​​formation.

If in doubt, questions should be addressed to a dermatologist. Specialists will determine the nature of the tumor, which will determine further treatment tactics.

What do dangerous moles look like in the photo?

List of photos showing dangerous moles on the human body:

Asymmetry is one of the symptoms of a dangerous mole (see photo)

Birthmarks on the legs: meaning, sign

Birthmarks on a child’s legs can be congenital or appear in the first weeks of life.
According to popular belief, if a birthmark is covered with hairs, then this is a bad sign; a person will face a difficult financial situation in life.

Birthmarks on the legs, according to popular belief:

• If the birthmark is located below the knee , this indicates a person’s selfishness, idleness and sloppiness.
• A birthmark on the ankle means a person is optimistic, hardworking, energetic and courageous.
• A birthmark on the right knee means success in love; on the left , a person is kind and sympathetic, but often commits rash acts.
• A birthmark on the thigh promises the owner numerous offspring.

How quickly do cancers develop?

The transformation of a nevus into a cancerous formation can occur in different ways. The process depends on the stage of the disease and the type of tumor. Instant metastases are dangerous. Begins:

• growth of cancer (oncological) cells in the deep layers of the epidermis;
• their entry into the blood and lymph;
• penetration into the lungs, liver, kidneys;
• growth in these organs;
• complete damage to the body;
• death.

The growth phases of pigment cells are observed, along which melanoma develops from a mole. There are varieties:

• horizontal – damage to the upper layers of the skin occurs, lasting up to 10 years, but metastases do not appear;
• vertical – accompanied by the spread of cancer cells throughout the organs, can last two years, has an unfavorable prognosis;
• nodular - especially dangerous - characterized by deep spread within two months.

Harmless moles

The vast majority of birthmarks are harmless to humans, and in some cases are considered decoration.

A typical mole is different:

• uniform color;
• clear form;
• smooth edges;
• does not protrude above the surface of the skin.

There is no change in her appearance during her life. Doctors can recommend removal only of those formations that are located in areas of high friction.

Safe pigment formations include:

• Spitz virus;
• Mongolian spot;
• balloon cell moles;
• fibroepithelial;
• verrucous;
• papillomatous.

Only a doctor will distinguish between safe formations and those that pose a threat to life. Therefore, if in any doubt, it is better to consult a doctor.

Birthmarks on the hands: meaning, sign

Birthmarks transmitted by heredity from a parent to a child
According to folk signs, they judge: the lighter the spot, the more favorable it affects the person, and vice versa.

Spots on the hands can be interpreted differently, depending on where they are located:

• A birthmark on the wrist means that a person will be successful in work, and material well-being awaits him in life.
• A birthmark on the outside of the hand means a person’s special talent and giftedness.
• A birthmark on the shoulder signifies troubles and hard work in life.

External differences between dangerous and safe moles

It is almost impossible to determine on your own what dangerous and safe moles look like. To do this, they need to be examined using special equipment - a dermatoscope, which magnifies the image tenfold. It is quite difficult to assess risks with the naked eye.

Nevertheless, dangerous moles have a number of characteristic signs:

• Asymmetry. Draw an imaginary line through the center of the nevus: the resulting halves should be symmetrical. If one side of the mole develops more actively, this is an alarming sign.
• Ragged, uneven, fuzzy edge. Safe moles have a clearly defined border with smooth edges, melanoma does not.
• Uniformity of color. The shade of a normal mole ranges from light brown and gray to black, but it should be the same. If bluish, brown, or red spots are noticeable on the surface, you should see a doctor.
• Variability. Normally, education remains stable throughout life. Any changes in size, shape, or color increase the risk of degeneration.
• Presence of a leg. Dangerous nevi grow randomly and are unable to form a clear base.

Experts also use the ugly duckling rule. If all nevi on a person’s body are similar, only a few differ in color, shape, structure, they need to be checked first.