Today: Is That Mole Cancerous? Pictures of Melanoma Can Help Identify What to Look for Is That Mole Cancerous? Pictures of Melanoma Can Help Identify What to Look for Melanoma is a kind of skin cancer that starts in the melanocytes.

Context Explanation

Melanocytes are cells that make the pigment that gives skin its color. The pigment is called melanin. Melanoma typically starts on skin that's often exposed to the sun. This includes the skin on the arms, back, face and legs.

Insight Material

Melanoma also can form in the eyes. Rarely, it can happen inside the body, such as in the nose or throat. Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer. It often can be cured if found early. These melanoma pictures can help show you what to look for.

Final Conclusion

The American Academy of Dermatology advises watching skin spots for: Asymmetry. Border irregularity. Color changes. Diameter greater than 1/4 inch (about 6 millimeters). Evolving. Melanoma: An abundance of treatment options To determine the best treatment plan, a healthcare team must first diagnose the extent of the melanoma.

This process is called staging, as your care team conducts a physical exam and removes a sample of skin, called a diagnostic biopsy, for testing. Your care team also determines the thickness of the melanoma and whether or not the cancer has spread ... Narrator: Melanoma may be diagnosed when a skin irregularity, thought to be a mole, becomes cancerous. The seriousness of the cancer is based primarily on tumor thickness.