› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Melanoma Risk
- This topic has 12 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 1 month ago by
emilyshaden.
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- January 17, 2016 at 4:22 pm
I wanted to thank those of you who responded to my biopsy question. I was hoping for a few more pieces of information from those of you with melanoma knowledge.
Since my dermatologist visit in July I have been obsessing over my moles and regretting many past decisions of mine. Most of my moles are very dark and in the skin, When I google them it appears they are junctional nevus. I had one biopsied in July and it came back very mild atypia. I am nervously waiting my two other biopsy results from this week. These moles started appearing in my 20's and I continue to get them popping up in my 30's. How much higher risk does this place me for melanoma ? I have about 7 of them about the size of an eraser or slightly smaller and around 100 very tiny ones that you cant see unless you are on top of me. I had one derm tell me i was very high risk and want 6 month visits. Another tell me not to worry about them and wanted to see me every 3 years and the last one told me I have a slightly higher risk and wanted to see me every year.
I am also getting conflicting info on the link between melanoma and the sun. I had a ton of sun exposure my entire life. I usually get a slight burn in the spring and usually get very dark by the end of the summer. I also used tanning beds in my 20's. I feel like this has also raised my risk significantly. No one in my family has every had melanoma.
Does hair color, skin type and eye color elevate the risk as well ? I have very dark brown hair, dark green eyes and am unsure of my skin type. I do not think I am fitzpatrick skin type 1 or 2 as I do get very dark… I might be a fitzpatrick skin type 3 ?
Thank you all…. I am looking for any info you all can provide.
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- January 17, 2016 at 6:21 pm
Hi there,
I am sorry you've gotten so much varying information from different dermatologists. I can only imagine how much more confused and worried something like that might make me. But, with that said, the main thing you can do is watch for change. If it would make you feel better to see a dermatologist once a year, then do it. Whatever will make you feel the most comfortable and at ease. Just remember, change is really the biggest thing you need to watch for with your moles.
As far as hair color, the only hair color I know of that actually increases ones risk for Melanoma is red hair. I am a redhead, and until I saw a Melanoma specialist a few months ago, I had no idea that just the production of red hair pigment automatically increases my chance of getting Melanoma even if I never saw the sun or got sunburned. So, with dark hair, you're fine in that department. You can tan, which is much more than I can say for my pale skin, I don't believe your skin tone increases your chance. Having had a blistering sun burn at some point in your life increases ones chance of developing Melanoma. But, does not mean it will happen.
Basically, try not to stress too much about all of your moles. Majority of people live with lots of moles and never get Melanoma. Just be aware of change. Document with pictures if that helps, and get skin checked by a dermatologist once a year or however frequently you prefer in order to keep your mind at ease.
Hope that helped a little,
Jenn
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- January 17, 2016 at 6:21 pm
Hi there,
I am sorry you've gotten so much varying information from different dermatologists. I can only imagine how much more confused and worried something like that might make me. But, with that said, the main thing you can do is watch for change. If it would make you feel better to see a dermatologist once a year, then do it. Whatever will make you feel the most comfortable and at ease. Just remember, change is really the biggest thing you need to watch for with your moles.
As far as hair color, the only hair color I know of that actually increases ones risk for Melanoma is red hair. I am a redhead, and until I saw a Melanoma specialist a few months ago, I had no idea that just the production of red hair pigment automatically increases my chance of getting Melanoma even if I never saw the sun or got sunburned. So, with dark hair, you're fine in that department. You can tan, which is much more than I can say for my pale skin, I don't believe your skin tone increases your chance. Having had a blistering sun burn at some point in your life increases ones chance of developing Melanoma. But, does not mean it will happen.
Basically, try not to stress too much about all of your moles. Majority of people live with lots of moles and never get Melanoma. Just be aware of change. Document with pictures if that helps, and get skin checked by a dermatologist once a year or however frequently you prefer in order to keep your mind at ease.
Hope that helped a little,
Jenn
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- January 17, 2016 at 6:21 pm
Hi there,
I am sorry you've gotten so much varying information from different dermatologists. I can only imagine how much more confused and worried something like that might make me. But, with that said, the main thing you can do is watch for change. If it would make you feel better to see a dermatologist once a year, then do it. Whatever will make you feel the most comfortable and at ease. Just remember, change is really the biggest thing you need to watch for with your moles.
As far as hair color, the only hair color I know of that actually increases ones risk for Melanoma is red hair. I am a redhead, and until I saw a Melanoma specialist a few months ago, I had no idea that just the production of red hair pigment automatically increases my chance of getting Melanoma even if I never saw the sun or got sunburned. So, with dark hair, you're fine in that department. You can tan, which is much more than I can say for my pale skin, I don't believe your skin tone increases your chance. Having had a blistering sun burn at some point in your life increases ones chance of developing Melanoma. But, does not mean it will happen.
Basically, try not to stress too much about all of your moles. Majority of people live with lots of moles and never get Melanoma. Just be aware of change. Document with pictures if that helps, and get skin checked by a dermatologist once a year or however frequently you prefer in order to keep your mind at ease.
Hope that helped a little,
Jenn
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- January 17, 2016 at 8:23 pm
As Jenn said, watch for CHANGE! Your hair, eyes and skin tone don't place you at higher risk, you don't have red hair, blue eyes and unable to tan. Back away from the Internet, it is disproportionally increasing your anxiety. You haven't been diagnosed and are unlikely to be diagnosed. You know to look for change so honestly, I suggest you you stay off the internet and go LIVE! You might rethink your sun habits for the future if only to avoid the other skin cancers and wrinkles but otherwise, just watch for change MONTHLY, not daily. Get some photographs so you don't imagine change and move on!
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- January 17, 2016 at 8:23 pm
As Jenn said, watch for CHANGE! Your hair, eyes and skin tone don't place you at higher risk, you don't have red hair, blue eyes and unable to tan. Back away from the Internet, it is disproportionally increasing your anxiety. You haven't been diagnosed and are unlikely to be diagnosed. You know to look for change so honestly, I suggest you you stay off the internet and go LIVE! You might rethink your sun habits for the future if only to avoid the other skin cancers and wrinkles but otherwise, just watch for change MONTHLY, not daily. Get some photographs so you don't imagine change and move on!
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- January 17, 2016 at 10:55 pm
Thank you Jenn and Janner ! That first visit with the first dermatologist in July put the fear of god into me. I do not know if her attitude was intended to scare me into using sun block but I had already ditched the sun bathing and unprotected sun exposure a few years ago. I never really thought my moles were that big of a deal until I met with this derm. I will check myself once a month rather than every day !
The more I read into it the more confused I got about what causes Melanoma. I know people who NEVER saw the sun and got melanoma. I also know people who have used tanning beds, played golf for 6 hours a day with no sunscreen and baked at the beach every summer weekend. They did not get melamoma but the more minor skin cancers.
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- January 17, 2016 at 10:55 pm
Thank you Jenn and Janner ! That first visit with the first dermatologist in July put the fear of god into me. I do not know if her attitude was intended to scare me into using sun block but I had already ditched the sun bathing and unprotected sun exposure a few years ago. I never really thought my moles were that big of a deal until I met with this derm. I will check myself once a month rather than every day !
The more I read into it the more confused I got about what causes Melanoma. I know people who NEVER saw the sun and got melanoma. I also know people who have used tanning beds, played golf for 6 hours a day with no sunscreen and baked at the beach every summer weekend. They did not get melamoma but the more minor skin cancers.
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- January 20, 2016 at 11:15 am
It is always good to have doctors check up once a month, this also helps in taking certain precautions for avoiding skin problems, also many a times women use unnecessary menstrual protections which contains absorbency gels that can lead to skin irritation, which can be avoided by using safe menstrual cups like cup menstrulle, as these are never blamed with any skin reactions.
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- January 20, 2016 at 11:15 am
It is always good to have doctors check up once a month, this also helps in taking certain precautions for avoiding skin problems, also many a times women use unnecessary menstrual protections which contains absorbency gels that can lead to skin irritation, which can be avoided by using safe menstrual cups like cup menstrulle, as these are never blamed with any skin reactions.
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- January 20, 2016 at 11:15 am
It is always good to have doctors check up once a month, this also helps in taking certain precautions for avoiding skin problems, also many a times women use unnecessary menstrual protections which contains absorbency gels that can lead to skin irritation, which can be avoided by using safe menstrual cups like cup menstrulle, as these are never blamed with any skin reactions.
-
- January 17, 2016 at 10:55 pm
Thank you Jenn and Janner ! That first visit with the first dermatologist in July put the fear of god into me. I do not know if her attitude was intended to scare me into using sun block but I had already ditched the sun bathing and unprotected sun exposure a few years ago. I never really thought my moles were that big of a deal until I met with this derm. I will check myself once a month rather than every day !
The more I read into it the more confused I got about what causes Melanoma. I know people who NEVER saw the sun and got melanoma. I also know people who have used tanning beds, played golf for 6 hours a day with no sunscreen and baked at the beach every summer weekend. They did not get melamoma but the more minor skin cancers.
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- January 17, 2016 at 8:23 pm
As Jenn said, watch for CHANGE! Your hair, eyes and skin tone don't place you at higher risk, you don't have red hair, blue eyes and unable to tan. Back away from the Internet, it is disproportionally increasing your anxiety. You haven't been diagnosed and are unlikely to be diagnosed. You know to look for change so honestly, I suggest you you stay off the internet and go LIVE! You might rethink your sun habits for the future if only to avoid the other skin cancers and wrinkles but otherwise, just watch for change MONTHLY, not daily. Get some photographs so you don't imagine change and move on!
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Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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