Can moles not exposed to sun be cancerous?
Melanoma occurs when the pigment-producing cells (cells that give color to the skin) become cancerous. Melanoma can appear anywhere on the body, even in locations that are not heavily exposed to the sun, such as the bottom of the hands and feet and even under the nails.
Can you get melanoma where the sun doesn’t shine?
Experts warn that skin cancer is an equal-opportunity offender, and it can afflict anyone, at any age, of all skin types on nearly any part of their bodies.
Can you get skin cancer without being in the sun?
In fact a skin cancer in a hidden part of the body is actually more likely to be a melanoma, which is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. But non-melanoma skin cancers – basal cell and squamous cell cancers – can sometimes occur in non-sun-exposed areas too.
Can moles appear without sun?
However, moles are often found on areas of the body that are not exposed, which suggests that factors other than ultraviolet radiation from the sun, perhaps hormones or other biologic processes, are involved in triggering the development of acquired melanocytic nevi and dysplastic nevi.
Can melanoma have no pigment?
Amelanotic melanoma is a form of melanoma in which the malignant cells have little to no pigment. The term ‘amelanotic’ is often used to indicate lesions that are only partially devoid of pigment while truly amelanotic melanoma where lesions lack all pigment is rare [1].
Can a melanoma be pale?
Image Credit: National Cancer Institute, January 2013. Healthy moles and other skin cancers contain melanin, but amelanotic melanoma growths cannot produce melanin and therefore lack pigment. This usually results in a very pale pink or reddish lesion. Amelanotic melanoma is a relatively uncommon form of cancer.
How long can a cancerous mole go undetected?
For example, certain types of skin cancer can be diagnosed initially just by visual inspection — though a biopsy is necessary to confirm the diagnosis. But other cancers can form and grow undetected for 10 years or more , as one study found, making diagnosis and treatment that much more difficult.
Can a mole be a sign of melanoma?
Most people have moles, and almost all moles are harmless. But it’s important to recognize changes in a mole – such as in its size, shape, color, or texture – that can suggest a melanoma may be developing. The most important warning sign of melanoma is a new spot on the skin or a spot that is changing in size, shape, or color.
Can you get melanoma on skin that does not get Sun?
But medical doctors now say the disease can form even with little time out in the sun. “Melanomas can occur anywhere on the body, not only in areas that get a lot of sun,” Doctor Kucy Pon told Reuters by email. She said the most common place for melanoma in men is the back, while for women it is their legs.
What does a un pigmented melanoma look like?
“These un-pigmented melanomas may be pinkish-looking, reddish, purple, normal skin color or …clear and colorless,” said Doctor Ronald Moy. He is a skin specialist from Beverly Hills, California, and a spokesman for the Skin Cancer Foundation. Moy said in an email that these un-pigmented melanomas can look like other forms of skin cancer.
Can a mole be mistaken for a mole?
Even worse, they can be mistaken for harmless moles or scars. This is especially dangerous, because early detection is critical for successfully treating melanoma. “Prevention and early detection are key,” said Doctor Emily Newsom, who is with UCLA Health in Los Angeles, California.