Types

How To Recognize Melanoma

LOTS OF SKIN LESIONS HAVE PIGMENT, BUT.....

Beware of Irregular Color and Contour!

Note the CONTOUR of this lesion is very IRREGULAR with some areas of notching.* Note also the COLOR of the lesion is very IRREGULAR with several shades of brown, black, and even areas of red and white.

LOTS OF PIGMENTED LESIONS GROW, BUT.....

Beware of Irregular Growth!

Note the SURFACE of this lesion is very IRREGULAR with one side that is raised and the other side that is flat. There is LACK OF SYMMETRY. Note that if you follow the OUTLINE of this lesion that it is also IRREGULAR by virtue of the angle in the contour.

*So who gets MELANOMA besides people who have had sunburns? Those at higher risk have red or blond hair, fair skin, blue eyes, or a family history of melanoma.

JUST ABOUT EVERYONE GETS MOLES, BUT.....

Beware of Moles that Grow Late in Life!

This lesion was noted to appear when the patient was in his 50's. TOO LATE!! Normal moles develop in childhood and early adulthood. This lesion was a melanoma! And just in case you thought the presence of hair indicated that a lesion is benign, it doesn't!

*Any pigmented lesion which is may be melanoma needs to be removed (excised) and examined with a microscope. This not only gives the diagnosis (benign vs. malignant) but also for melanoma, the thickness seems to serve as the best prediction of how the patient will do subsequently (and what else needs to be done).