To detect melanomas and increase survival rates, it is recommended to learn what they look like, to be aware of moles and check for changes and to show any suspicious moles to a doctor with an interest and skills in skin malignancy. The signs and symptoms of melanoma are listed below. Border of the lesion is irregular. Melanomas usually have multiple colors. Moles greater than 6 mm are more likely to be melanomas than smaller moles.
Meanwhile many melanomas present themselves as lesions smaller than 6 mm in diameter; and likely all melanomas were malignant on day 1 of growth, which is merely a dot. An astute physician will examine all abnormal moles, including ones less than 6 mm in diameter. An experienced doctor can distinguish seborrheic keratosis from melanoma upon examination, or with dermatoscopy.
Certainly moles which change and evolve will be a concern. Elevation can help identify a melanoma, but lack of elevation does not mean that the lesion is not a melanoma. Most melanomas are detected in the very early stage, or in-situ stage, before they become elevated. By the time elevation is visible, they may have progressed to the more dangerous invasive stage.
A recent and novel method of melanoma detection is the "Ugly Duckling Sign". It is simple, easy to teach, and highly effective in detecting melanoma. Simply, correlation of common characteristics of a person's skin lesion is made. Lesions which greatly deviate from the common characteristics are labeled as an "Ugly Duckling", and further professional exam is required.
The "Little Red Riding Hood" sign suggests that individuals with fair skin and light colored hair might have difficult-to-diagnose melanomas. Extra care and caution should be rendered when examining such individuals as they might have multiple melanomas and severely dysplastic nevi. A dermatoscope must be used to detect "ugly ducklings", as many melanomas in these individuals resemble non-melanomas or are considered to be "wolves in sheep clothing".
These fair skinned individuals often have lightly pigmented or amelanotic melanomas which will not present easy-to-observe color changes and variation in colors. The borders of these amelanotic melanomas are often indistinct, making visual identification without a dermatoscope very difficult. People with a personal or family history of skin cancer or of dysplastic nevus syndrome should see a dermatologist at least once a year to be sure they are not developing melanoma.
Moles that are irregular in color or shape are suspicious of a malignant or a premalignant melanoma. Following a visual examination and a dermatoscopic exam, used routinely by one in 4 dermatologists in the United States, or an examination using other in vivo diagnostic tools, such as a confocal microscope, the doctor may biopsy the suspicious mole. If it is malignant, the mole and an area around it needs excision.
Amelanotic melanomas and melanomas arising in fair skinned individuals are very difficult to detect as they fail to show many of the characteristics and breaks the "Ugly Duckling" sign. These melanomas are often light brown, or pink in color, and very hard to distinguish from acne scarring, insect bites, dermatofibromas, or lentigines.
The diagnosis of melanoma requires experience, as early stages may look identical to harmless moles or not have any color at all. A skin biopsy performed under local anesthesia is often required to assist in making or confirming the diagnosis and in defining the severity of the melanoma. There is no blood test for detecting melanomas.
NeviCurative is a powerful all natural topical treatment proven to eliminate and defeat moles or nevi. The pharmacological strength of NeviCurative provides effective elimination of moles without scarring, tissue damage, or recurrence. The treatment is painless and delivers profound results in the elimination of moles, returning skin tissue back to its original state.
NeviCurative can be used to treat any strain of moles occurring anywhere on the body. It is important to note that NeviCurative is undiluted and unadulterated -- it contains strictly certified organic antimicrobial plant extracts that have the ability to destroy moles and melanomas. NeviCurative is pure and complete, which is critical when treating any infection on the skin.