Symptoms
of Melanoma
The most common symptom of melanoma is a mole that:
- Has
irregular edges or is asymmetrical in shape or size
- Changes
in shape, size, or color
- Is
more than one color
- Itches,
bleeds, or oozes
However, melanoma might develop without a mole or without
change to a mole. Other signs to look for include:
- Pigment
that spreads from a spot on the skin into surrounding areas
- Irritation
or swelling outside a mole’s border
- Dark
streaks under the nails
- Dark
spots in the iris of the eye
- Sores
that don’t heal in the nose or mouth
Melanoma
Risk Factors and Prevention
Due to risk factors such as age, race, gender, and family history, melanoma
can’t be completely prevented. For example:
- Melanoma
is much more prevalent among Caucasians (1 in 40 lifetime risk) than it is
among African-Americans (1 in 1,000) and Hispanics (1 in 200).
- The
risk of melanoma increases as people age. The average age at diagnosis is 63.
- Melanoma
occurs significantly more often in men than it does in women. More than 52,000
men and nearly 35,000 women in the U.S. were estimated to have been diagnosed
with the disease in 2017.
But people can take steps to limit their risk for developing
melanoma. Up to 90 percent of melanomas result from ultraviolet (UV) radiation
overexposure; the sun is the most common source of UV that most people
experience.
To reduce their sun exposure, we recommend that people:
- Stay
in the shade
- Wear a
broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 30 rating or higher
- Wear
protective clothing when in the sun, including a long-sleeve shirt, hat,
and protective sunglasses
- Avoid
tanning beds, which also generate UV rays
In addition, we recommend that everyone regularly examine their
skin for abnormal moles.
