Skin changes can be concerning, and understanding what to look for is a step toward maintaining skin health. This guide offers insights into various skin growths, from harmless spots to cancerous lesions, with visual cues for identification. Early detection can lead to more favorable outcomes. This article is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice or diagnosis from a qualified healthcare provider.
Common Benign Skin Lesions
Common moles, also known as nevi, are symmetrical with a uniform color, often pink, tan, or brown. They have distinct, smooth edges and can be flat or slightly raised, often dome-shaped. Most common moles are smaller than 6 millimeters in diameter, roughly the size of a pencil eraser. These moles are harmless, though it is important to monitor them for any changes over time.
Freckles, or ephelides, are small, flat spots that appear on sun-exposed skin, such as the face, arms, and shoulders. They are light brown or tan and can range in color from red to dark brown. Freckles often become more noticeable with sun exposure in summer months, and may fade in winter. Unlike moles, freckles are not a health concern and are a result of melanin production triggered by ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Seborrheic keratoses are common, non-cancerous skin growths that appear as people age. These lesions have a waxy, “pasted-on” appearance. Their color can vary from light tan to brown, yellow, gray, or even black. Seborrheic keratoses can be flat or raised with a scaly or rough surface, and they occur on the face, scalp, trunk, and limbs, though not on the palms or soles.
Precancerous Skin Growths
Actinic keratosis (AK) is a precancerous lesion that may develop into squamous cell carcinoma. These growths present as small, scaly, rough patches that can be pink, red, brown, or flesh-toned. They are felt before they are easily seen, with a texture compared to sandpaper.
Actinic keratoses appear on frequently sun-exposed areas, including the face, scalp, ears, neck, and hands. They can vary in size from tiny, barely noticeable spots to larger areas up to an inch wide. While asymptomatic, some actinic keratoses may feel tender, itchy, or even develop a persistent sore or bleed. Early detection and treatment of these lesions are important to prevent progression to skin cancer.
Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer, appearing on sun-exposed areas like the head and neck. It can manifest in several ways, including a shiny, pearly, or waxy bump that may be skin-colored, pink, red, or, on darker skin, brown or glossy black. Tiny blood vessels may be visible on the surface, though they can be harder to discern on darker skin.
Another common presentation of basal cell carcinoma is a flat, scaly patch with a raised edge, that can grow large over time. Sometimes, BCCs appear as a white, waxy, scar-like lesion with poorly defined borders, indicating a more invasive type. These lesions may also present as an open sore that bleeds, oozes, or crusts, and fails to heal. While BCCs grow slowly and are not painful or itchy, any persistent or changing skin lesion warrants professional evaluation.
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is another common skin cancer, found on sun-exposed areas like the face, lips, ears, scalp, and hands. It can appear as a firm, red nodule or a flat lesion with a scaly, crusted surface that bleeds or itches. These lesions might also resemble warts or persistent open sores that do not heal.
Squamous cell carcinoma can also present as a rough-feeling area that may be reddish on lighter skin or red, violet, purple, grayish, or dark brown on darker skin. SCCs show up as growths that are raised at the edges with a lower, depressed area in the center. Early detection of squamous cell carcinoma is important, as timely treatment leads to successful outcomes.
Melanoma
Melanoma is a less common but potentially serious form of skin cancer that can develop anywhere, including existing moles or as a new spot. Recognizing its warning signs is aided by the ABCDE rule, a guide for detection. This mnemonic helps individuals identify characteristics that differentiate a suspicious lesion from a common mole.
A stands for Asymmetry, meaning the two halves do not match in shape if an imaginary line is drawn through the middle. Common, benign moles are symmetrical. B represents Border, referring to edges that are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred, unlike the smooth, even borders of most moles.
C signifies Color, indicating uneven coloration with multiple shades of brown, black, or tan, and areas of white, gray, red, pink, or blue. Benign moles exhibit a single, uniform color. D refers to Diameter, where a lesion larger than 6 millimeters, the size of a pencil eraser, is a warning sign.
E stands for Evolving, any change in size, shape, color, or elevation over weeks or months. The appearance of new symptoms, such as bleeding, itching, or crusting within a mole, is also a warning sign. Any such evolution warrants professional attention.
When to Consult a Dermatologist
It is important to consult a dermatologist if you observe any new spot or growth. Any existing spot that changes in size, shape, color, or texture warrants professional evaluation. Such changes can be early indicators of skin cancer, and prompt assessment is beneficial.
A sore that does not heal within a few weeks should be examined by a dermatologist. If a spot itches, hurts, crusts, or bleeds, these are grounds for an appointment. Any spot that aligns with the ABCDE criteria for melanoma should be checked by a provider.