What's a Mole Versus a Melanoma from a Memphis Dermatologist

by George Woodbury Jr. M.D. (11/03/2024)

Dr. George Woodbury is a Cordova Dermatologist — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury counsels a patient about Melanoma

About one American loses his or her life needlessly to Melanoma, also called Malignant Melanoma, the most dangerous type of Skin Cancer, every 54 minutes. That’s about 9300 needless American deaths due to melanoma each year.

Melanoma is the most dangerous type of Skin Cancer — Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury examines a patient for Melanoma

Another shocking statistic: about half of people developing melanoma are below the age of 52 years old. Melanoma is not just an affliction of the elderly. So let’s take a look at the differences between a Mole and a Melanoma Skin Cancer, what causes these skin growths, and Melanoma treatment, my perspective being Board-certified Dermatologist, since 1993, with Rheumatology and Dermatology Associates, 8143 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova TN 38018 (1-901-753-0168; www.Rheumderm.com/dermatology).

Melanoma joins Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma as the three most common types of Skin Cancer — Dermatology Staff exxamines a patient's back for Skin Cancer

As a practicing Board-certified Dermatologist, in Cordova, Tennessee, a suburb of Memphis, near Germantown, Bartlett, and Arlington, let’s first look at what Moles and Melonoma are, and how you can spot them.

A Congenital Nevus or Inborn Mole is a type of Common Mole — A Common Mole or Compound Nevus on a patient's back

The skin’s protective pigment is called melanin, and it’s made from melanin-producing cells, called melanocytes. Melanin acts to prevent damage to our body’s DNA from ultraviolet light from the sun. A Mole is a collection of melanin-producing cells, and it’s quite normal for the average American to have between 5 and 35 Moles, often developing them between the ages of 5 and 35. But it’s ironic that the very cells that make this protective pigment, the melanocytes, can at times go haywire and start dividing out of control, becoming Melanoma. Melanoma is a less common type of Skin Cancer than Basa Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Carcinoma, but Melanoma is also the most dangerous type of Skin Cancer.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma can also be dangerous if not detected early by Skin Cancer Screening — The photo above shows a Squamous Cell Carcinoma on a patient's back

Melanoma can develop in the skin, in the back of the eye (the Retina), in the mouth or sinuses, and even in the spinal cord. It can grow out of normal skin or out of a pre-existing normal mole, or arise as a growth right within the skin. Sometimes it can start out in a Mole that was present at birth, called a Congenital Mole, or Congenital Nevus. About 1500 of the 75,000 cases of invasive Melanoma that will develop this year arise in people below the age of 20, and about 250 of these cases arise in people below the age of 12, so Melanoma can occur in both kids and adults.

Melanoma is most common in fair-skinned White or Caucasian individuals, but also occurs in Native Americans, Asians, Latinos, and African-Americans. In fact, it is often diagnosed later in these groups, making treatment more involved, with high fatality rates. In fact, the Afro-Caribbean reggae musician Bob Marley died in his late 30s of Melanoma which developed on one of his toes, a Skin Cancer which if caught early could have likely been effectively removed by an outpatient surgery.

The warning signs of Melanoma that Dermatologists watch for – as originally described by Dr. Daryl Rigel and Dr. Al Kopf of New York University’s Department of Dermatology – are known as the A, B, C, D, E warning signs:

A stands for Asymmetry: one half of the mole does not match the other half.

B stands for an irregular Border: perhaps jagged like the coast of Maine, rather than smooth, like the coast of Florida.

C stands for Color change: perhaps a mole that’s particularly dark; or with different shades of brown, black, or gray; or with Color changes taking place.

D stands for a Diameter – or distance across – a mole that’s enlarging – particularly if that distance gets larger than the head of a number 2 pencil’s eraser.

E stands for Evolving or changing features.

Atypical Moles can be a marker that a patient is at higher risk of Melanoma — This patient has some very dark moles - Atypical Nevi - on his back

So what’s the story on atypical moles, sometimes also called dysplastic nevi or dysplastic moles?

Melanoma is sometimes also called Malignant Melanoma — The photo above shows a characteristic Melanoma or Melanoma Skin Cancer

In the 1970s, a Dermatologist from the University of Pennsylvania – Dr. Wally Clark – first identified certain families within which people tended to have a number of dark moles and also people had a tendency to develop melanoma. Dr. Clark described the features of “dyplastic moles” or “dysplastic nevi,” these being moles that were dark in color, often with a raised center and a flat periphery.

The most common location for Melanoma in men is on the back — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury examines a patient for Melanoma

Since the 1970s, these dark moles have been renamed “atypical moles,” and it’s been appreciated by Dermatologists that such moles are not rare, but actually can affect up to 3-4% of us. Because there is an increased risk of Melanoma in families of people with atypical moles, there are a number of research studies underway currently to help to identify the exact increased risk of Skin Cancer developing within an isolated atypical mole, because we know that people with atypical moles can develop Melanoma both from their normal skin, and from these dark moles. Until more data becomes available, many Dermatologists – including myself –advise that atypical moles be completely removed – unless patients have so many of them that it’s more feasible to photograph the moles and monitor them for changes – or if removal of a particular mole would be at risk of causing undue scarring.

Atypical Moles or Dyplastic Nevi tend to have a raised center and a flat periphery — Atypical Moles can occur in adults and kids

A Dyplastic Mole or Atypical Mole can sometimes be suspected by a Dermatologist based upon inspecting the skin and finding a mole that’s unduly dark, or with a raised center.

For photos of melanoma and normal moles and atypical moles look like, go to the Skin Cancer Foundation website, SCF.org.

The most common location for Melanoma in women is on the legs — Scarlet Akins developed Melanoma on her knee while seven months pregnant

My Memphis Dermatology practice sponsored a movie on Youtube about the story of Scarlet Akins, a 26 year old woman who was studying to become a teacher at Ole Miss, but who developed a Melanoma on her knee while pregnant, a Skin Cancer that metastasized or spread within her body.

Melanoma is a dangerous type of Skin Cancer — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury examines a patient for Melanoma

The good news about the type of Skin Cancer that we call Melanoma is that early detection definitely saves lives: if caught early, Melanoma is often curable with an outpatient removal or “excision,” under a shot of local anesthetic.

The best way to detect Melanoma is by a careful Skin Cancer Screening — Dermatologist inspecting a patient for Melanoma

So the moral of the story is: “See Spot. See Spot Change. See a Dermatologist.” My own Memphis Dermatology practice for over 30 years has been with Rheumatology and Dermatology (www.Rheumderm.com: 8143 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova TN 38018: 1-901-753-0168. Or to find a Best Dermatologist Near Me, or Best Dermatologists Near Me, by going to the American Society of Dermatology website, AAD.org, then plugging your zip code into the “Find a Dermatologist” tab.

George Woodbury Jr. M.D.

(11/03/2024)

Big River Silk Skincare manufactures organic skincare — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury with Big River Silk Skincare staff

In 2016, I became President of Big River Silk™ Skincare, manufacturer of organic skincare focused around fragrance-free exfoliating moisturizer and cleanser. Our flagship products include best antiwrinkle cream GlycoShea™ Facial&Neck Lotion, best acne wash AmberSoy™ Soap Gel, and best organic moisturizer HypoShea™ Moisturizer Lotion.

GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion contains Alpha Hydroxy Acid Glycolic Acid — GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion is a Best Face Cream

We offer both GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion and GlycoShea Facial&Neck Cream. So let’s take a look at which is the best option for your skincare needs:

Glycolic Acid is an Alpha Hydroxy Acid — GlycoShea Facial;&Neck Lotion's Antiwrinkle Cream ingredient is Glycolic Acid

GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion is lighter to apply, nongreasy, and fragrance-free, appealing for most people with combination skin or even oily skin. It can be used once or twice a day, particularly to areas where you wish to achieve better skin color, texture, or tone. (1 oz: $45.95; 2 oz: $68.95; 8 oz: $217.95).

BlycoShea Facial&Neck Cream is a Best Antiwrinkle Cream — GlycoShea Facial&Neck Cream contains Refined Shea Butter

GlycoShea Facial&Neck Cream has a higher concentration of Refined Shea Butter, making this product more lubricating and more useful for people with drier skin. With more concentrated Shea Butter, GlycoShea Facial&Neck Cream has an initial aroma of Shea, right after application, with more prolonged moisturizing effects, making this variety more convenient to apply at bedtime. (1 oz: $45.95; 2 oz: $68.95; 8 oz: $217.95).

Glycolic Acid is an Alpha Hydroxy Acid antiwrinkle Cream ingredient — GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion contains Glycolic Acid

GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion and Cream are also helpful for what makes them pure. Designed by Dermatologists, both of these exfoliating moisturizers are fragrance-free, dye-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, and formaldehyde-free, making them into best Organic moisturizer (1 oz: $45.95; 2 oz: $68.95; 8 oz: $217.95).

GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion and GlycoShea Facial&Neck Cream are available for over the counter sale at Big River Silk Skincare’s Headquarters, 8143 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova TN 38018 (1-901-753-0168; www.Bigriversilkskincare.com). Or they can be ordered at https://www.Bigriversilkskinacre.com ($7.50 shipping and handling for orders under $75.00/$12.50 for Canadian orders; otherwise USPS shipping and handling is free).