Check the mole
The sun was there, the first freckles appeared on the nose and the moles came out from under the layers of dust. And with those round, brown sprouts in sight, the discussion erupted. ‘If it gets thick, you should have it removed’ and: ‘it gets worse from the sun’ were slogans flying over the lunch table. But since your editors are not secretly also a budding doctor, I enlisted the help of the professional. And dermatologist Ronald Siphanto from DC Clinics tells us everything about the ingenious little spot.
First of all, what exactly is a mole?
“It is a buildup of pigment cells. Some people have a few, but another person can have several. Pigment cells are usually benign. You have a predisposition for moles. It sometimes runs in the family.”
You have a mole, what should you look out for?
“We use a so-called ABCD rule, which stands for asymmetrical, border, color, and diameter. A is when a mole does not grow nicely round, but crooked. In B, the mole has no clear boundary, but fades into the skin. In the case of C, there is a mole that is too dark or has dark spots. A mole is preferably one color and light brown. And D stands for a diameter of 5 millimeters. These are reasons to keep an eye on a mole, as it does not have to be malignant right away.”
So it doesn't mean anything right away?
“No, moles sometimes get larger or thicker. They can change. This can be due to the sun, but also due to pregnancy. Between your twenties and forties, you often get extra moles. That is not a cause for concern. Sometimes it is actually the flat one that turns out to be a melanoma.”
Yes, should we pay extra attention to the sun in combination with moles?
“Sometimes a mole stays a bit darker after summer, which is not strange. But it is certainly important not to over-stimulate the skin. It is best to avoid the bright sun between twelve and three o'clock and apply sunscreen. every two hours. The sun is a risk factor and can change a mole, but family members with a history of skin cancer can also pose an extra risk factor. If you have a light skin type and blue eyes and your hair is red or light blonde, then you need to be extra careful. But in principle, anyone can have malignant moles.”
Are there any body parts that you need to pay extra attention to?
“In women, melanoma occurs more often on the lower legs, while in men it occurs more on the torso or back. But it can change anywhere on the body. Sometimes people also have moles on their hairy head. If a man goes bald, you can see that, but not in a woman. Occasionally, it is also good to check under your soles, as there are also moles there. This is sometimes forgotten.”
And what about the hair from the mole?
“That doesn't harm. It is not an indication of whether it is good or bad. You can just remove a hair, as the hair follicle does not affect the pigment cells.‘
How often should we get checked?
“It depends on the risk factors and of course the ABCD rule. You can choose to have them checked periodically or even have a mole removed preventively. If they do what they are not supposed to do or if you live or have lived in a sunny area, for example. But once every one to two years is usually sufficient. Go to the general practitioner, let him or her assess it, and if they don't trust it, they will refer you to a dermatologist.”
