What To Look for In Your Moles

Did you know that an average adult will have anywhere from 10 to 40 moles? These can be quite harmless most of the time, but can also be a cause for alarm when they become cancerous. That is why it is advisable to check your moles at least once a month to see if anything changes.

Any sudden or suspicious change in your warrants a consultation with Dr. Amarpaul Sidhu or Foothill Dermatology Medical Center in our Glendora CA, or Rancho Cucamonga, CA, office. Keep in mind that early detection is always important in addressing diseases, especially melanoma, a type of skin cancer. So what should you look for in your moles?

What to Look For?

When an existing mole presents a noticeable change in its color, shape, feel, or size, you should be alarmed. Especially if the mole begins to itch, becomes hard, oozes fluid, or bleeds. These are warning signs that must not be ignored. What else should you look for in your moles to help you detect potential problems?

• The two halves of the mole don’t match.
• It is irregular, has ragged edges, is blurred, or notched.
• Uneven coloring of the mole that can have shades of brown, tan, black, white, red, gray, blue, or pink.
• It has an unusual size that can be bigger than a usual pencil eraser.
• The look has changed in the span of a few weeks or months and is quite different from your other moles.

If any of these warning signs begin to manifest, consult your dermatologist in our Glendora CA, or Rancho Cucamonga, CA, office right away.

Moles That Affect Your Appearance

Not all moles that are removed are cancerous. Some people decide to have their moles removed because it affects their appearance. For example, a mole that is extremely large or prominently located on your face. Once it begins to have an impact on your confidence and cannot be covered up with makeup, then you may want to consider cosmetic mole removal.

The cosmetic procedure for removing moles will take only a few minutes and doesn’t need an extensive healing period. A surgical knife will be used to excise the mole tissue, after which the area will be treated and covered to allow healing.

A Crucial Note on Skin Cancer Screening

Being proactive in inspecting your moles will help you spot melanoma early on. This becomes extremely important if your family has a history of moles becoming cancerous. If this is the case, it will help if you limit your exposure to the sun and apply sunscreen. After all, melanoma is the deadliest type of skin cancer so it pays to detect it early on and get proper treatment immediately.

Examining your body at least once a month is a good way to initiate skin cancer screening. Be on the lookout for moles that have a different look than your existing ones or have only appeared during adulthood. Any changes or indications that have been mentioned above should be a red flag and require a professional inspection immediately.|

For Any Concerns, Questions, or Advice on Moles, Contact Us

Arrange an evaluation with Dr. Amarpaul Sidhu by calling our Glendora, CA, office at (626) 852-3376, or our Rancho Cucamonga, CA, office at (909) 483-0008.