How do you know if you have melanoma? 5 characteristics that skin usually has, according to experts

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that arises from melanocytes.reported on the website Mayo Clinic. Melanocytes are cells that produce the pigment that gives skin color. The pigment is known as melanin.

Melanoma occurs primarily on the skin most exposed to the sun, such as the arms, back, neck, face and legs.. Melanoma can also form in the eyes. In rare cases, it can appear inside the body, that is, on mucous membranes such as the nose or throat.

Although there is no direct cause of melanoma, dermatologists warn that Exposure to ultraviolet radiation causes most melanomas. Ultraviolet light comes from sunlight or sunlamps and beds.

The incidence of this skin cancer has increased over the past 25 years. Globally, melanoma is estimated to make up a significant percentage of all malignant skin tumors.

Malignant melanoma is one of the deadliest tumors, because it accounts for 75 percent of all skin cancer deaths and is more likely to spread to other parts of the body or tissue. However, It is treatable if detected early.

Melanoma does not always start as a mole. It can also appear on healthy skin. Common moles usually have a uniform color. They can be pink, brown, tan or black.

How does this cancer manifest?

It appears in the form unusual and irregular moles (existing or new appearance) or due to a change in the size, shape or color of an area of ​​skin. There is a rule described by skin specialists called A B C D Ewhich highlights the main characteristics of suspicion of a possible cancerous lesion:

• Answer: Asymmetry. The lesion is NOT round.
• B: Edges. The edges are uneven.
• S: Color. The lesion has a different, heterogeneous color.
• D: Diameter. The size of the formation exceeds 6 mm.
• E: Evolution. Any of the above characteristics have changed over time.

Melanoma in Mexico occupies 3 percent of tumors, Unfortunately 80 percent of cases are detected in late stages, According to statistics from the Mexican Social Security Institute.

Treatment of melanoma

Treatment for melanoma is mainly surgical. remove the tumor with a reserve of healthy skin, with a thickness of more than 1 mm Lymph node staging should be performed to rule out lymph node metastaseseither with lymphatic mapping and resection of the first node, or with removal of all nodes from the drainage area.

The possibility of curing this disease does not depend on the extent of surgery. but depends on how early it is discovered.

Sun care:
Avoid sun exposure between 11am and 4pm, avoid tanning beds, use sunscreens with a high sun protection factor of SPF+50, wear sun protective clothing and hats or caps. Patients with multiple moles or freckles are advised to undergo periodic dermatological examinations and monitor for the appearance of new moles or any changes in size, color, shape or even bleeding.

Experts also warn that People who suffered more than 3 sunburns as children are 10 times more likely to develop melanomacorrect use of sunscreen from childhood, choosing appropriate clothing for protect yourself from the sunjust avoid overexposure during hours of greatest radiation They are key measures in this direction.