Melanoma, and why its timely diagnosis is important!

Risk factors:

• fair skin phototype (fair skin, blue eyes, fair or red hair, presence of freckles);
• a large number of pigment nevi ("moles");
• history of sunburn (especially in childhood);
• heredity – cases of melanoma in relatives;
• visiting solariums;
• syndrome of dysplastic (atypical) nevi;
• pigmented xeroderma.

Diagnosis of Melanoma

Early diagnosis of melanoma is the key to a full recovery. Despite the fact that melanoma is a very malignant tumor that can metastasize to lymph nodes and distant organs, with timely diagnosis in the early stages, it is very amenable to treatment.

Today, early diagnosis of melanoma is possible thanks to dermatoscopy and mole mapping. This is a modern, safe hardware method of diagnosis, which allows you to detect a tumor in the early stages. The essence of the birthmark mapping method is to photograph the entire skin with subsequent automated analysis of all pigment formations and dermatoscopy of suspicious nevi (birthmarks). Risk groups should have this procedure at least once a year. It is worth noting that it is often impossible to distinguish a melanoma from an ordinary birthmark with the naked eye. And every new pigment formation on the skin can be dangerous.

Cases in which it is recommended to consult a doctor (except for preventive examinations of risk groups):

• The presence of a neoplasm (a mole) that is visually different from others (the "ugly duckling" rule)
• Neoplasm that undergoes changes (grows, changes color and shape)
• Discomfort in the area of ​​the neoplasm (pain, burning, itching, etc.)
• Redness and peeling in the area of ​​the neoplasm, which does not go away for a long time;
• Bleeding neoplasm, a neoplasm that does not heal for a long period of time.

Author: Dermatovenereologist, pediatric dermatologist, trichologist Ksenia Myhorova.