Melanoma: a type of Skin Cancer

Understanding Melanoma and how to prevent it? 

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that is caused due to mutation of normal melanocyte cells or pigment-producing cells into cancerous cells.

Melanoma is a rare type of skin cancer but the most dangerous one as it metastasizes very fast. Melanocytes are mostly present in skin, eyes and rarely in the intestine.

Melanoma can affect anywhere in the body where Melanocytes are present, however, it mostly affects legs in women and chest and back in men. Another common site for melanoma is neck and face.

Types:

  • Superficial speeding melanoma
  • Nodular melanoma
  • Lentigo malignant melanoma
  • Acral lentiginous melanoma
Symptoms:

Like any other cancer, the symptoms are very difficult to detect in the early stages. It is very necessary to look for changes in the appearance of the skin.

The symptoms are:

  • Asymmetry, the moles have irregular shapes.
  • Borders of the moles are irregular, ragged and notched.
  • The color of the moles tends to change causing uneven shading and dark spots. The color of the moles can vary from black, brown, tan, blue and rarely white.
  • The diameter of the mole is bigger than the diameter of any normal mole.
  • Evolution or elevation of the mole’s appearance is an indicator of melanoma. The mole can either change its shape, size or even its texture.

Other symptoms:

  • Sores that do not heal easily
  • Redness, swelling, and pigmentation that spreads outside the borders of the spot to the surrounding skin.
  • Blurred vision
  • Dark spots on the iris
  • Partial loss of vision.
Causes:

The causative factors for melanoma are:

Risk factors:
  • People with fair skin, blonde or red hair and green and blue eyes are at higher risk than people with dark skin.
  • Excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays.
  • History of sunburns
  • People living closer to the equator are at higher risk as they receive a higher amount of ultraviolet rays. If you live close to the equator at a higher altitude you are at higher risk as the ultraviolet rays received there are much higher.
  • Having more than fifty moles indicates a high risk of melanoma.
  • Having usual types of moles like dysplastic nevi increases the risk of developing melanoma.
  • People with close biological relatives having melanoma are on higher risk of developing this condition.
  • Men are at higher risk than women.
  • Older adults are at higher risk.
  • People having xeroderma pigmentosum which is a rare inherited condition are at higher risk.

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Complications:
  • Scarring
  • Edema due to the accumulation of lymph in cases where lymph nodes have been removed.
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Bad effects of drugs due to long-term medication.

How to prevent it?

  • Avoid exposure in sun especially between 10 am to 4 pm.
  • Use sunscreen every time you go out in the sun with a higher range of SPF.
  • Wear dark closely knitted clothes or photoprotective clothes.
  • Cover your arms and legs while going out in the sun
  • Avoid tanning bed or lamps

Understanding the different types of Skin Cancer

2 thoughts on “Melanoma: a type of Skin Cancer”

  1. I have lots of moles on my face and neck. Does that mean I have chances of developing melanoma? What can I do now?

    1. Hello Ankit,

      People with lots of moles, unfortunately, are at higher risk of having melanoma, but you should not worry about every mole.
      If there are some changes in the appearance, texture or color of the mole then do visit the doctor.

      How to prevent melanoma:
      You cannot prevent melanoma but reduce the risk of developing melanoma by following these tips:
      • Avoid exposure to the sun without a sunscreen lotion with a minimum SPF of 30.
      • Avoid tanning or using products that cause tanning.
      • Use hat while you go out in the sun.
      • Use UV protected sunglasses.
      • Avoid exposing any part of your body in the sun.
      • You can also use well-knitted clothes or photoprotective or sunlight protective clothes.

      Hope we have answered your query. in case of any further details required, do get in touch.

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