Does Your Mole Put You at Higher Risk for Skin Cancer? Discover the Moles that Increase Your Risk
Many people think a mole is a mole. And in many ways it is, however there are different types of moles with varied characteristics. Does having a particular type of mole instead of another put you at a greater risk for getting melanoma or any other type of skin cancer? One vital way to fight skin cancer (or any other cancer for that matter) is to know your personal risk.
2 Most Common Types of Moles
Congenital Moles or Congenital Nevi
These are moles you are born with. Congenital moles can also develop in childhood. They are generally round shaped, and small in size. Although these are often spots where skin cancer first appears if you have an average number of these they aren’t an immediate danger but something to keep an eye on as you age.
Atypical Moles or Dysplastic Nevi
These are moles that are larger than average size. An average size mole is smaller than a pencil eraser. If you have a mole that is larger than that it is considered to be an atypical mole or dysplastic nevi.
Many people who have these types of moles have a large number of them. It also tends to run in families. This increases your risk for skin cancer. These types of moles may be sensitive to sun exposure and this exposure can increase the risk of developing skin cancer.
Although having more than the common amount of moles (about 30) increases your risk for developing skin cancer it doesn’t mean that you’re doomed. If you have moles it’s vital to keep an eye on them as time goes on. A good rule of thumb is to do an all over skin exam on your birthday.
If you do have higher risk factors for skin cancer then you should also have a regular exam by a health care professional each year to insure early detection if a problem should develop.
Melanomas are a highly curable type of skin cancer. One of the most important factors in curing it is early detection. It’s vital to get to know your own skin and moles in order to protect yourself and loved ones from skin cancer.
