Understanding Moles and Skin Cancer
What is a Mole?
Moles are basically clusters of pigment cells (melanocytes) that produce color in your skin. They can be there from birth or appear as you get older. While most are harmless “beauty marks,” some can turn into skin cancer.
The “Warning Signs” (Check your moles!)
You should see a doctor if a mole starts behaving strangely. Use this simple checklist:
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Size: It grows larger than 5mm (roughly the size of a pencil eraser).
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Shape: The edges are jagged or uneven (not a nice, clean circle).
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Color: It isn’t just one color. Watch out for a mix of black, brown, blue, or red.
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Feeling: It starts to itch, feel painful, or bleed.
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Change: It was flat but is now bumpy, or it’s getting darker/uglier over time.
Why is it important to check?
In Malaysia, many people ignore moles because they think they are just “marks of aging” or “beauty spots.” However, a mole that bleeds or changes rapidly is a high-risk sign of skin cancer. Catching it early means it can be removed before it spreads.
How are they treated?
If a doctor thinks a mole looks suspicious, they usually recommend:
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Standard Surgery: Cutting out the mole and a small area of skin around it to make sure all “bad” cells are gone.
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Mohs Micrographic Surgery: A newer, very precise method where the doctor removes skin layer by layer and checks it under a microscope immediately. This helps save as much healthy skin as possible and leaves a smaller scar.
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Histology: Every mole that is removed is sent to a lab to be tested (“biopsy”) to confirm if it was cancer or not.
Important Note:
Avoid using “mole removal creams” or DIY kits found online. These usually only burn the surface and don’t actually remove the root of the mole. If the mole is cancerous, these creams won’t cure it—they just hide it while it continues to grow underneath.
The Bottom Line: If you have a mole that looks “different” from the rest, or if one you’ve had for years starts changing, get it checked by a skin specialist (Dermatologist) just to be safe.
For more information, please visit https://www.thomsonhospitals.com