The perceived wisdom when it comes to melanomas is to medically check or refer any new mole or pre-existing mole which changes in appearance. The word, ‘melanoma’, actually means, ‘malignant mole’. Moles are usually brown or black but not every melanoma is that colour or a variant hence the reason to seek a professional analysis of a new raised area of skin or blemish or lesion that does not seemingly have an obvious underlying cause i.e. a wound, bite, sting, bruise or just good old-fashioned spots. Potentially troublesome moles may exhibit a purplish/blue hue but this is not the only shade of melanoma.
Jul 18, 2020 Hive-type rash (urticaria): Sudden appearance of raised bumps on the skin which come and go quite quickly over hours and are usually very itchy. It can involve any part of the body, and often. Rough or scaly red patches, which might crust or bleed Raised growths or lumps, sometimes with a lower area in the center Open sores (which may have oozing or crusted areas) that don’t heal, or that heal and then come back. Seborrheic keratoses are benign (noncancerous) skin growths that develop from skin cells called keratinocytes. These growths have a waxy or greasy look and can be tan, brown or black. They look like they have been glued or stuck onto the skin. Over time, the growths become rough and crusty looking.
Over the past two months or so a small red patch keeps appearing on my left cheek, just below the eye. It's always in the same spot and is not in any way uncomfortable or different to normal skin in terms of sensation. It stays for about a week then starts to fade gradually, then once it has faded to almost nothing, it starts to reappear. This is a skin condition that causes silvery-red, crusty, flaky patches of skin, which can appear anywhere on the body. Doctors believe that psoriasis may result from a problem with the immune system.
Can melanomas be red in colour?
One of the mechanisms used for non-qualified people to spot a mole that is different is the ‘ugly duckling’ principle. Most people’s moles are consistent for their body so a similar tone and shape which may differ from the next person’s. A mole that stands out as different requires investigation. It may vary from your usual colour, the shape may seem unusual and it may lack symmetry, so –odd-shaped.
Melanomas can be red and are described as amelanotic melanomas. Usually not deriving from moles and absent melanin, therefore, they can be easily mistaken for something harmless. They are commonly misdiagnosed as they remain challenging to identify even for an experienced clinician. They appear as a new presentation on the skin or an existing one which is undergoing a transformative process.
How difficult is it to detect a pink melanoma?
For those with fair skin, a light pink melanoma will hardly register, surely just a variation in skin tone. They may be noticeable as new arrivals but hardly present as a cause for concern. Read this online account by West Australian nurse, Amanda Whittle. Fortunately, her pink melanoma was spotted and treated. Australians put the rest of the world to shame when it comes to vigilance over melanomas. A largely fair-skinned population in a climate defined by glorious weather, they have regular skin inspections. It is compulsory for school children to wear sunhats and carry sunscreen and beachgoers wear special swimming costumes that actually block out all ultraviolet light, even the adults. Genius!
Do Lentigines have any connection to white melanomas?
More commonly entitled sunspots, liver spots or age spots, they have no association with the function of internal organs but do have a tendency to appear on older people who have spent a lifetime in the sun for work or leisure purposes. A Lentigo Maligna Melanoma occurs from a pre-existing lentigo, not a mole. These incidences are infrequent, accounting for less than 5% of melanoma cases and have a slow developing propensity. Most prominent on the face or back, in male outdoor workers, they are typically large and flat presenting as either grey or white melanomas.
Melanoma prevention and good sun habits
Like lung cancer and its relationship with smoking, melanoma can be massively reduced in risk or totally eliminated with good regimens, especially important for young children with delicate and vulnerable skin. You don’t have to miss out on the fun in the sun, just follow the tagline or slogan of the American Cancer Society, ‘Slip! Slop! Slap! and Wrap!’ which means, in essence, put on a shirt, lather on some high factor total block, pop a hat on your head and wrap around the sunshades to protect your eyes.
What is binge tanning?
Binge tanning is rather like binge drinking, it indicates excessive amounts of sun. This can arise in one of two ways. Overuse of tanning lamps which produce UV light several times stronger than the sun itself. The other form of abuse is exposing milky, white skin to the heat and force of foreign sunshine without any acclimatisation or protection. This is behind the alarming rise of melanoma diagnoses in the UK, noted for its grey, overcast skies and cloud cover. Currently, one woman in her twenties is being diagnosed every day. In the United Kingdom, it is the most common cancer in women under 30, overtaking both breast and cervical cancer according to Cancer Research.
Melanomas can be internal too
The greatest percentage of melanomas arises externally, visible on the skin. If they spread or metastasize, they may reach internal organs. More rarely, melanoma can develop internally without first indicating its existence on the skin.
Ocular melanoma is one such illustration, affecting structures within the eyes, which also contain pigment and those pigment-producing cells, melanocytes. Internal melanoma can also grow in the mucous membranes so the nose, sinuses, mouth, anus or vagina, so-called, Mucosal Melanoma. Make no mistake, ocular melanoma is rare, with a hit rate of five cases per one million head of population. Similarly, melanoma in the mucous membranes represents only 1% overall of all melanoma diagnoses but location and rarity deem a grave and guarded outlook when they are identified as they are often late stage.
Should a very small melanoma be taken seriously?
Red Patch On Face That Comes And Goes Forth
Melanoma does not have the reputation it deserves. It is an aggressive and deadly cancer with an almost innocuous presence belying the potential gravity of the situation. A small melanoma can hide its depth and extent beneath the skin, always get them inspected by a doctor.
Red Patch On Face That Comes And Goes
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