Red Moles on Skin

Have you started to notice something out of the blue on your body recently? Are you noticing small red moles? These will create panic in the minds of some people who fear that it may be a sign of skin cancer. Before we think about something so drastic, it is important to note that not all such moles lead to a terrifying skin condition.

You can check for a few pointers yourself before you rush over to the doctor's clinic. These pointers will help determine if these red moles on skin are harmless or a sign of a disorder.

Red moles are also known as cherry hemangiomas, that are abnormal growth of blood vessels. They are also known as cherry angiomas, senile angiomas, as well Campbell de Morgan spots after the British surgeon who first described them. They look like bright red or purple round spots. They are about 1 to 4 mm in size. One can develop them on body in areas, like the armpits, heels, genital areas, chest, back, legs, arms, etc.

Another type often seen are the interdermal melanocytic nevi or in simpler words, true moles. They are raised, and have very little pigmentation. The ones on the face are commonly seen in people who have fair skin, light hair, and blue eyes. These can be slightly pink in color, symmetric in shape, and look the same for years on end.

Pyogenic granulomas are another type, that are harmless and are always thought of as suspicious cancer spots. They are very soft compared to the others. They are prone to bleeding, and therefore, need to be removed by electrocautery, laser surgery, and other types of surgery.

One of the dangerous types that are often overlooked by patients is the one formed due to melanoma. This is a very deadly form of skin cancer that needs immediate medical evaluation. But how can one differentiate between these types? One needs to observe them carefully, and if they look suspicious, speak to your healthcare provider.

These are caused by various reasons. On the face, hands, and other exposed parts of the body, they may occur due to overexposure to sunrays. Serious sunburns may also lead to this problem. Most of the time, pyogenic granulomas are caused due to sun burns.

It may also develop due to heredity traits. Most of the time, it is seen that they occur in individuals who have a family history of malignant melanoma. Thus, these people need to monitor these spots on their body carefully. A pregnant woman may also develop them. This is due to the various hormonal changes occurring in her body. These changes lead to development of spots on one's body. Another cause is aging. Older people should take extra precautions.

These spots can come up anywhere on any part of the body. Most often when one observes these on face, one realizes these eruptions are present on other body parts as well. But, how can one be sure that these rare the harmless types? You need to have a close look and diagnose whether they are worrisome or not.

• You need to check whether these are asymmetrical or symmetrical in shape. This is the most important aspect of diagnosing cancer. An asymmetric type indicates a problem. If it is symmetrical, it may be a harmless, benign spot.

• Check the border. If the borders are irregular and jagged, it means they indicate malignancy.
• The color too, plays an important role in diagnoses. If the color is too dark or darkens with time, there are high chances of it being cancerous.

• The size also indicates if you need to call your doctor. A benign one is no larger than the size of a pencil eraser. If the size is larger than normal, it requires the doctor's attention.
• They tend to be slightly elevated. However, if the elevation is raised more than normal or in conjunction with other characteristics mentioned above, you need to speak to a medical expert.

These spots on the face and other parts of the body do not require any treatment most of the time. Unless they are at the risk of developing into a melanoma, no treatment is advised. In some cases, cryosurgery or electrosurgery is used. If you have any doubts regarding these, speak to your doctor. Most of the time, they turn out to be benign or true. Hope the above paragraphs have helped solved your queries regarding these moles.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.