Should the Huge Birthmark on My Child Be Removed?
Does that big mole on your child have you worried and wondering if it should be surgically removed to prevent cancer? […]
Why Does Melanoma Sometimes Turn a Mole Purple?
Ever see images of melanoma and wonder why some of the lesions have purple areas? Perhaps you’ve seen photos in which the entire melanoma was purple. […]
My Daughter Wants Her Face Moles Removed: What Should I Do?
Has your young daughter come to you asking to have all the dark little moles on her face removed so she could have the “perfect” skin of models? […]
Can a Normal Mole Be All Yellow?
An ALL YELLOW mole? Is this possible, and if so, could it mean melanoma? Awareness campaigns for the deadly melanoma need to keep rolling out, because this deadly disease can be discovered in its early [...]
Can Self Removal of a Skin Tag Cause Cancer?
There’s a cancer related reason why you should never self-remove a skin tag. A skin tag is formed in areas where there’s friction such as that from clothing or folds in the skin. [...]
What Does a Grey and Yellow Mole Mean ? Should You Worry ?
MOLE Has your mole always been grey and yellow? Or has it always been kind of grey, and now it has a dull yellow area? What’s alarming about this is if you know [...]
Can a Normal Mole Look Like a Melanoma?
It’s pretty scary to know that a perfectly normal mole can look like a melanoma, and even more unnerving is that a melanoma may pass as a benign mole. […]
Nodular Melanoma: What You Should Know About this Killer
Nodular melanoma is a particularly lethal form of cancer that disregards the ABCDE guidelines that are so publicized about melanoma. Delayed diagnosis is more common with nodular melanoma than with the more common superficial spreading [...]
Is a Mole Normal if It’s Brown and Grey or Can It Be Melanoma?
A normal mole is supposed to be one color, or at least, two shades of a color. But brown and grey are two completely different colors. Is this melanoma? […]
Toenail (Subungual Hematoma) vs. Melanoma: Visible Differences
The appearance of blood under a toenail can closely resemble a melanoma – and vice versa. Here is a comparison of the differences and similarities. […]
What is Central Regression in a Melanoma?
A doctor may describe a melanoma as having “central regression” or as being “centrally regressed.” Though this term seemingly is self-explanatory, it does warrant further explanation to the layperson. […]
Can Melanoma Be Found After Mole Removal with Laser?
Just what exactly is the connection between melanoma being found where a mole was removed with a laser? […]
Can a Mole of Three Shades Be Benign?
Do you have a mole of three shades that’s causing you a lot of anxiety because you know that melanoma can cause a mole to have more than two colors? […]
What Does Atypical Mole with Regression Mean?
An atypical mole is also known as a precancerous mole. These such lesions can undergo a regression. “Regression is a term applied to lesions that our immune system attacks or treats,” says Erum Ilyas, MD, [...]
Mole Removal from the Butt Crack: Pain and Recovery
Here’s what you need to know about removing a mole from your butt crack: if it’s painful and how the recovery goes. The idea of any procedure that involves the butt crack can cause anxiety [...]
Can a Teenager Get Melanoma in the Mouth?
The answer is “Yes” to the question, Can a teen get melanoma of the mouth. The most highly publicized presentation of melanoma is that of a “mole” on the skin. […]
What Is a Dermatoscope?
What exactly is a dermatoscope? First off, next time you see a dermatologist for a skin cancer screening, make sure the doctor is using a dermatoscope. Sometimes, a dermatoscope is incorrectly called a dermoscope. “Derma” [...]
Can a Mole Be Too Tiny to Biopsy for Melanoma?
If your dermatologist told you that a mole is too tiny to be biopsied, and to wait a little longer to see if it gets bigger, get a second opinion. […]
Young Adult Getting Tons of Moles in a Short Period?
If a teen or young adult gets a bunch of moles in only a short period of time, is this predictive of future melanoma? Or perhaps some of those new moles ARE melanoma? [...]
Skin Reaction Around Mole Removal Area: What’s Normal & Not
When a mole is removed, there may be a reaction around the area. Do you know how to tell if the reaction is normal or if it means a visit to the doctor? You have [...]
Precancerous Mole Removed and Growing Back: What this Means?
Is the precancerous mole that you had removed now growing back? When this happens, the biggest fear is that what’s growing back is melanoma skin cancer. What would cause the precancerous mole to "grow back"? [...]
Can Self Mole Removal Cause Melanoma?
If you’re hell-bent on removing a mole by yourself, you’d better think twice—because self mole removal may increase your risk of melanoma. All over the Internet are articles on how to perform a self mole [...]
How Long Do Normal Moles Take to Develop?
To anyone with “molechondria,” the question of how long it takes for a normal mole to develop is often on their mind. One-third of melanoma cases arise from pre-existing moles. Of course, any new mole [...]
Mole Bleeds After Scratching: Melanoma Risk or IS It Melanoma?
Rather than worry that scratching a mole raises melanoma risk, you should be concerned that a mole that bleeds from the lightest scratch IS melanoma. However, this is not likely since often, scratching can cause [...]
How Does a Dermatologist Check for Melanoma?
Here’s how to make sure a dermatologist is doing everything possible to check your skin and moles for signs of melanoma. […]
Does a Painful Mole Mean Melanoma and Should a Doctor See It?
Melanoma can cause a mole to hurt in a way that can be described as pain. However, other factors can also cause pain to come from a mole. So how can you tell if the [...]
Benign Causes of Itching Moles Other than Melanoma
There’s a surprising number of benign reasons for a mole to begin itching. Though melanoma indeed can cause a mole to be itchy, this symptom often has a cause other than cancer. […]
How to Stop Worrying About Your Moles
Anxiety over your moles can get bad enough to disrupt productivity at work, ruin social events & cause insomnia. However, you can overcome this nagging problem. […]
Might a Bluish Black Freckle Be Melanoma?
Does that bluish black freckle (or what IS it?!) have you panicking it might be melanoma? “The bluish color in many pigmented lesions represents pigment that is deeper in the dermis than the pigment that [...]
Two Ways Melanoma Can Become Deadly
If melanoma is caught early enough, it’s highly curable, but many people let it slip by, and this is how this deadly skin cancer can get past even health-conscious people. Two ways that this can [...]
How Common Are Red Moles?
Here is information about red melanomas vs. benign red moles in terms of physical appearance. “Benign moles can appear reddish in part due to sunburn or irritation,” says Dr. Michael Shapiro, MD, Medical Director and [...]
How Common Are Grey Moles?
You may have read that moles can be grey in color, but how normal or common is this? “The most common moles usually have an even pink, tan or brown color,” says Dr. Michael Shapiro, [...]
Mole with New Black Specks May Not Be Melanoma
Here’s a benign explanation for why you see new black spots in your mole that weren’t there before. Before I give this explanation, you should know that the new appearance of black in a pre-existing [...]
What Does Tiny Dark Spot in Mole Mean?
Can a small dark spot inside a mole possibly mean melanoma? Unfortunately, the answer is YES -- it can be an early sign of this deadly skin cancer that can sneak up on people. “Any [...]
How to Lessen Anxiety over Moles and Melanoma
Are you so afraid of your moles that you no longer can look at them, for fear of what you might see? Serial Digital Dermoscopy This wonder of technology will give you great peace of [...]
Mole with White Spot in Center
Find out what it could mean if a mole has a white spot in it. I have a mole that has a white (or actually, flesh or cream colored; it’s hard to tell) spot kind [...]
How Common Is Melanoma Black; Can a Normal Mole Be Black?
A dermatologist discusses how often a mole with melanoma is a black color. I wondered how common is it that a melanoma lesion is black — not dark brown, but true black. And can a [...]
Does a Blue Mole Mean Possible Melanoma?
A dermatologist weighs in about what a blue mole most likely means and if this can signal melanoma. “Yes, some moles will appear blue in a clinical exam and they are called blue nevus moles,” [...]
How to Check if Your Moles Are Getting Bigger
Here is a really simple way to tell if one of your moles is getting bigger -- even a very tiny dot of a mole. No apps required! You need only two simple items. The [...]
Can a Changing Mole Be Benign or Is It Always Melanoma?
We’ve been scared by the media about changes in moles, and skin cancer, a la, “If you notice any changes in a mole, see a doctor immediately, as this could mean skin cancer.” And you [...]
