The lesion is not symmetric from one side to the other. It may need to be biopsied or monitored, or it may require nothing more than reassurance. Meeting ABCDE criteria doesn’t mean a growth is cancerous or even abnormal but it does mean it may have some concerning features that should be examined by a BCD. If you have a growth meeting one of these criteria, it’s a good idea to have it checked out by a board certified dermatologist (BCD).
#ABCD MOLES SKIN#
I share this as a warning that though ABCDE criteria are helpful, they are not a replacement for the trained eye of your American Board of Dermatology certified dermatologist!īelow are the basic, common ABCDE criteria to consider when looking at a pigmented (colored) skin lesion. Only one was mentioned by the patient to be concerning as it was changing in appearance. Three of the four melanomas I’ve diagnosed in the past few weeks were just thought by the patients to be sun damage of no medical concern. Your dermatologist has years of training to help diagnose lesions that often look benign to the naked eye. The caveat is that not all melanomas follow ABCDE criteria.
However, there are at least three ABCDE criteria, so I think this is a great time to share those with you. Many patients are familiar with the ABCDEs of melanoma. And with about 1/3 of melanomas arising in pre-existing moles, its vital to know that presence for years or even life-long does not mean a mole is or always will be OK. It is important to know what is normal on your skin in order to recognize things that are new or changing. Most melanoma-one of the most serious forms of skin cancer-develops on its own-not from a pre-existing mole. Moles can be flesh colored, pink, brown, and even blue to almost black-and all of these colors can be normal or abnormal depending on a variety of factors. Moles in and of themselves are benign growths composed of an increased number of melanocytes-the cells that contain our pigment (skin color) making compartments. Moles are extremely common-if you don’t have any, you have a family member or friend who does. So this month I thought I’d focus on something I mention almost daily-what to look out for in moles and new or changing skin and nail lesions.