Malignant Melanoma is the most serious of skin cancers. As a profession, we discuss skin cancers a lot because we see many different people on a daily basis and have the opportunity to assess their skin in places they may not even be able to see.
I am proud to say that between myself and colleagues of mine, we have identified skin blemishes that we have felt would be beneficial to get checked by the doctor and on more occasions than not it has resulted in a cancer diagnosis that has then gone on to be successfully treated.
As a blemish removal practitioner I do not diagnose skin cancer myself but have been lucky enough to study with Masced a skin cancer charity so I can recognise when blemishes may look suspect and advise my client just to get it checked.
This blemish below was discovered recently by a colleague of mine who’s friend asked her to take a look and tell her what she thought, it had been growing for around a year on the thigh area. This collegaue of mine told her to go to and get it checked and it came back as Stage 1 melanoma.
About Malignant Melanoma
- It’s most serious type spreads to internal organs
- It is usually blueish or black
- Moles that have been normal for years can suddenly become malignant
- There is an increase in size
- An increase in pigmentation or spreads to surrounding skin
- There is bleeding or a crust formation
Childhood exposure to the sun is an important factor when it comes to talking about melanoma with the number of people diagnose doubling every 10 years. I ask all of my clients to use SPF following treatment and encourage the use of SPF all year round.
So if you are visiting me and have any blemish you are unsure of then please just ask, I will always recommend you see a specialist if I think anything looks remotely abnormal.