Conditions
Skin Cancer
If your bronze permatan would make David Dickinson envious, and you regularly fry yourself on sun-drenched beaches or pay for blasts of the artificial stuff at a salon, then you could be increasing your risk of skin cancer. Since the 1980s the number of cases has rapidly increased, reaching around 69,000 new diagnoses every year. Melanoma indicated by the presence of malignant moles is one of the main types of skin cancer. However, not all moles are harmful, usually only those that either suddenly appear or are irregular in colour or shape. There are also non-melanoma types of cancer which include basal cell (a smooth bump or a flat crusty and scaly spot) and squamous cell cancer (a red lump or a flat scaly crust-like lesion). You can still venture out into the daylight, but check your skin regularly and use high factor protection in the sun. If in doubt, consult your GP.
Comments and Questions
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Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.
hey. im 14 and i have a mole on the bottom half of my leg at the side. i have had it for a long time but it has 2 darker colours patches in it. i have also had that for at least 2 years. recently i have noticed that the edge on one side has spread out slightly. i went to boots chemist and one woman said i should only go to the doctor if the edge changes darker (as the mole is light brown). i hardly ever go in the sun and when i do i wear sun tan lotion. another woman also said that it could be because im growing up. is this true please help me as i am not allowed to go to the doctor as my mum said i can only go if the chemist says so.
im 17 and i just noticed a mole between my ball sac and my leg the mole doesnt hurt but has a red ring around it , i dont know how long its been there but when i was younger i had a mole on my ear and it got removed and sent off for a exsamination and they said it was close to skin cancer should i be worryed?
hello im 16 and have a mole on my private area and i dont like it , its quite big 1cm and i dont like it it effects my realtionships all the time what can i do? i dont wanna tell anyone
hi, im a 17 year old female and i have about 5 or 6 very distinguishing moles on my face around my cheek and eye areas, which are either completely flat or slightly raised and are about the size of a pencil rubber or abit smaller. they have been affecting my self confidence since i was very young, sometimes i can not even go out into public. i was wondering if there was any non surgical procedures that would lighten or even remove these? such a a kind of laser or peel? i would really appreciate any suggestions, im at at dead end, and it's becoming increasingly depressing.
Hello I have a small lump on my forearm its been there for a few years but everyone asks about it i think if its been there a few years its ok. Its got a bit harder now. There is a couple of little raised red marks near it
ive always had a brown mole on the inside of my vagina. Im currently 30 weeks pregnant and ive noticed this mole has become lumpy and sticks out and is tender when i touch it. It has definately changed.I havent noticed any pain during sex or passing urine but im just a little bit worried
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I have a mole on my upper arm, on the inside. It hasn't got a border at all, and there a small bumpy parts joined to it, and small ones around it. It's bumpy too, not smooth, and is a sticky outy one. I think it's always been a little weird, but I'm worried about it. Does it sound as if it could be cancerous? It's also quite big. =\
I've got one on my wrist which sounds the same as yours, it's about 4mm big. I'm going my GP next week about it as one of the bumpy parts went scabby and fell off
I have a very large mole on the left side of my back around 10 cm long, been to GP and couldnt help much, does anyone know anywhere that removes large moles any specialist places, or maybe some NHS advice on this, or any other information will be helpful
hi im michelle ive got a mole on my back thats got a red ring around iti went to the docs in he checked it and measured it then i went back in a month in nothing changed he says its ok but im not convinced should i be worried please reply
hello i have a small pink mole thing on my side it changes colour as times it is skin coloured then paink and on holiday last year it was brown should i get it checked out
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The EB doctors have been looking at your comments and have answered some of the common questions below. Remember that it is always best to check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.