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Conditions

Skin Cancer

Basal carcinoma cell indicating 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.

What the Men in White Coats Say

Comments

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.

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Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out the Channel 4 Health site or NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.

high i am 15 but i have a mole on my arm and it keeps changing, it not round it got jagged edges and parts of it are light and other parts are dark, can you give me some advice about what to do please because it is worrying me a bit.

hi ive noticed a mole under my husbands armpit and its been there for a year an a half. its quite big and red around the edges like a ring. it doesnt hurt him buh recently its gone smaller. i am quite worried if its cancerous. please could you give me some advise thanks.

I have had quite a large puffy mole just under my left armpit for as long as I can remember. I have never had any problems with it till 7 days ago.
My mole felt like it was catching on the side of my bra and was becoming red around the outer circle of it. To stop anymore irritation I put a plaster over it for a couple of days. When I removed the plaster I was horrified to see the mole had swollen a little and there was an angry looking pus blister that decided to leak. When I wiped it clean I noticed the mole had like a crater style hole in it. I covered it back up to stop infection and when looked 24 hrs later, the area that was a hole had skin that had turned black. I have just checked it again and glad to say the affected area has cleared up and scabbed over but it is so itchy. Is what I have elaborated on normal when a mole gets irritated or do you think there is something really wrong. I have never worried about it before but am really worried now. Any info would be great and helpful.

hi i have a light brown mole on my face and recently it has been sore i noticed there was a spot on the mole and squeezed it and pus came out. it is still sore a bit red and a little raised now. should i get it checked out? as im worried.can you trigger skin cancer by doin this? :S please help!

Hiya, i have facial moles and they are small circledand black, but as time has gone past they have grown abit bigger and darker and i have to 5-9 on my face and it is starting to effect my confidence and the way i feel about my self, i want to get them removed but i dont know where to look..please help!

hi im 13 years of age and i have a werid mol on my back near my neck its very big but ive never rembered it being that large… and ive been feeling quite sick and my apitite has gone im not eating at all at the moment … i need help … i dunno whats up but … please help …

thanks x

hey im only 13 and ive got a werid mad moll on my back its growing a bit and im sorta worried :/ what shall i do?

Hey, I noticed this mole just about on my lower back, if a bit lower, and it looks irregular, and it did get me worried a bit, but I jsut brushed it off thinking I was being silly. But today at school one of my friends pointed out something on my arm that I hadn't noticed, it looks like a scab except it's sort of going in then sticking out, if that makes sense?
Now I'm pretty scared because my grandad had skin cancer, and he had scabs all over his arm, the same arm I have them on! Could it be possible this could have been passed down through genes or something?
Do you think I have cancer?
I'm only 13, nearly 14, I didn't think I could be affected, if I do have some sort of cancer, this early on?

i have egg moles, as i call them. its a mole which is then bang in the middle of a white birth mark. which i have only just started noticing i am 13 and i asked my parents if they've ever noticed them and they said no. just wondering if i should be worring. also their are some grey hair also growing by them as well?? does this mean anthing?? xx

Hello, I'm 21 and have a few moles, one in particular has a white dot in the middle of it which has just occured. Should I be worried about it? I would visit the doctor but I don't want to feel like i'm wasting their time as they are so busy with the swine flu.




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Videos

  1. Psoriasis

    Consultation: Psoriasis

    Dr Dawn Harper examines a patient with psoriasis

  2. Mole on the skin

    Consultation: Mole Check-Up

    Dr Harper examines a patient's moles

  3. Hyperpigmentation

    Consultation: Hyperpigmentation

    A patient with hyperpigmentation is assessed by Dr McKenna

  4. Acne on the back

    Quick Health Advice: Acne

    Dr Pixie McKenna provides some information on the causes of acne, zits and spots as well as some of the treatme…

  5. A mole examination

    Quick Health Advice: Moles

    Dr Jessen advises on the kind of mole you should be looking out for and how to lower your risk of getting skin…

  6. Psoriasis

    Quick Health Advice: Psoriasis

    Dr Harper explains the causes of and treatments available for psoriasis.

  7. Botox injection to treat excessive sweating

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    Dr Pixie discusses the causes of excessive sweating and the treatments available.

  8. HS Response Video

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    Dr Christian answers your most frequently asked questions about Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

  9. Stretch Marks Response Video

    Doctor Responses: Stretch Marks

    Dr Pixie answers your most frequently asked questions about stretch marks.

  10. Mole Body Check with Dr Christian Jessen

    Body Check: Moles

    Dr Christian talks about how to check your moles for potentially dangerous changes.

  11. Am I Normal - Acne

    Am I Normal Acne

    Dr Dawn Harper discusses the causes and treatments of acne, including the opinions of the cast of Hollyoaks.

  12. how to check your skin

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    Dr Jessen provides a quick guide on how to check and protect your skin against skin cancer.

  13. Am I Normal - After Sex

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    Dr Dawn Harper discusses what is and isn't normal after sex, including discussions with the cast of Hollyoaks.

  14. Am I Normal - Body Odour

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  15. Am I Normal - Breasts

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