Skin lesions – Factors causing concern

Adrian Richards explains which Skin Lesions should cause concern. For more information or should you wish to book a FREE Consultation with our specialist plastic surgeon, please call us on 01844 214362.

Skin Lesions – Factors Causing Concern

Hello. My name’s Adrian Richards, and I’m going to be talking today a little bit about skin lesions and some of the factors that, if you do have them, could perhaps be causing you concern and may warrant an appointment with one of our specialists.

The first thing to say is moles and skin lesions are really common and everyone’s got them. The average person has approximately seven moles on their body. Some people, obviously, are much moley and other people less.

Most skin cancers do not develop in pre-existing moles but some can. It’s worthwhile to keep an eye on the moles you have to see if they change. Really any new moles, we need to know about. Most moles tend to grow very slowly.

There are two main different types of moles. Intradermal nevi, which are sort of dome-shaped moles on the face, which are normally slightly pink in colour and are not dark.

The main form of skin cancer, most worrying, is melanoma. This is a skin cancer. It’s a pigment containing cells in the skin. These are the melanocytes. These are the cells that, when stimulated by the sun, cause you to tan. A melanoma is a tumour of the melanocytes.

Basically if you notice any new mole arising, which is growing, it is a sign of concern. If you notice any change in an existing mole or a mole has recently appeared. So that’s change in the surface, if it’s becoming rougher or changes or becomes scabby.

Any change in colour, particularly if it becomes darker. One of the things we watch out for is mixed pigmentation. One area of the mole is light and one area is dark. That can show us that one area has an excess number of melanocytes producing the pigment.

Change in shape is another area of concern, where one area of mole starts growing. The other point is change in symptoms. If you get itching, bleeding, or you are more aware of the mole, those are factors which we really need you to come in.

Overall, most moles are absolutely fine. If, however, you are worried in any way particularly if you feel any mole is recently changing, altering in any way, please come and see us. Most cases, we’ll be able to reassure you or just do a biopsy and take a specimen of the mole and that will be the end of it. Occasionally we will find a skin cancer, but if you have got a skin cancer, please come and us earlier on than later because it’s much easier to deal with a relatively small lesion before it’s spread than slightly larger.

I hope that’s been informative. If you’d like any more information or you’re worried about any skin lesion, please contact us either by ringing us at 01844 214362 or contacting us via the Aurora Clinics website. Thank you very much.