Melanoma and the Ugly Duckling

One of the many concerns of dermatologists today is skin cancer. There are many different kinds of skin cancers today, but among the most deadly form of skin cancer is the Melanoma. According to dermatology rancho cucamonga centers, melanoma is one of the rarer types of skin cancer but causes the majority of skin cancer related deaths. Malignant melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer. It is due to uncontrolled growth of pigment cells, called melanocytes.

Signs of Melanoma

To detect melanomas, it is recommended to learn what they look like, to be aware of moles and check for changes (shape, size, color, itching or bleeding) and to show any suspicious moles to a doctor with an interest and skills in skin malignancy. A popular method for remembering the signs and symptoms of melanoma is the mnemonic "ABCD":

· Asymmetrical skin lesion.

· Border of the lesion is irregular.

· Color: melanomas usually have multiple colors.

· Diameter: moles greater than 6 mm are more likely to be melanomas than smaller moles.

A weakness in this system is the D. Many melanomas present themselves as lesions smaller than 6 mm in diameter; and likely all melanomas were moles on day 1 of growth, which is merely a dot. Common practice used in dermatology rancho cucamonga centers is an astute physician will examine all abnormal moles, including ones less than 6 mm in diameter. Seborrheic keratosis may meet some or all of the ABCD criteria, and can lead to false alarms among laypeople. An experienced doctor can distinguish seborrheic keratosis from melanoma upon examination, or with dermatoscopy.

The Ugly Duckling and Little Red Ridding Hood

A recent and novel method of melanoma detection used by dermatology rancho cucamonga centers is the "Ugly Duckling Sign". It is simple, easy to teach, and highly effective in detecting melanoma. Simply, correlation of common characteristics of a person's skin lesion is made. Lesions which greatly deviate from the common characteristics are labeled as an "Ugly Duckling", and further professional exam is required.
The "Little Red Riding Hood" sign, suggests that individuals with fair skin and light colored hair might have difficult-to-diagnose melanomas. Extra care and caution should be rendered when examining such individuals as they might have multiple melanomas and severely dysplastic nevi. A dermatoscope must be used to detect "ugly ducklings", as many melanomas in these individuals resemble non-melanomas or are considered to be "wolves in sheep clothing".