Over 70% of melanoma cases appear from healthy skin that does not have blemishes or lesions on the skin.
The vast majority of melanomas do not develop from moles. A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology shows, in fact, that more than 70% of melanomas develop de novo, from healthy skin without spots or skin damage.
Each year in France, more than 11,000 people are affected by this skin cancer, one of the deadliest. It appears as a pigmented, irregular spot that resembles a mole. Hence the false impression that melanomas result from the modification of a mole. “Patients and physicians should be aware that skin without moles is more at risk of developing melanoma,” commented Dr. Riccardo Pampena, onco-dermatologist at the Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (Italy) .
With his team, the Italian practitioner reviewed some thirty studies reporting more than 20,000 cases of melanoma. Of these cancer cases, around 30% were associated with a pre-existing mole. The remaining 70% have occurred de novo. “Melanomas are 64% less likely to develop from a mole than de novo “, Note the authors.
Examine her skin
Their analysis reveals, moreover, that the melanomas associated with the modification of a mole were finer than the others. A difference which could be explained by an earlier diagnosis in patients with many moles. The latter are, in fact, more inclined to have their skin monitored by a dermatologist and to carry out self-examinations.
In view of these results, dermatologists point out the importance of controlling the smallest square centimeter of skin, whether you are covered with moles or not. During this examination, it is necessary to look for the appearance of a new lesion, a dark or irregular spot, or of a heterogeneous color.
Source: Information brochure of the National Union of Dermatologists-Venereologists on Melanoma
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