NEW ADDENDUM: view new video on preventing and detecting melanoma skin cancers:
My daughter recently asked, “Is it true that pulling hair out of moles or picking at moles causes them to turn into cancer?”
My daughter recently asked, “Is it true that pulling hair out of moles or picking at moles causes them to turn into cancer?”
 |
| This is a melanoma, not a mole! |
She was
trying to help one of her girlfriends understand something her mother had pounded
into her from childhood: “Don’t touch that mole! If you pick, you’ll turn it
into cancer!”
So, once
again I am here to dispel another myth. Hundreds of my patients have asked the
same question over the years.
The cancer in question here is melanoma.
THE
BOTTOM LINE: There is no convincing scientific evidence that picking a mole
turns it into cancer (melanoma). That also applies to nicking during shaving,
catching with a comb or brush, or any other trauma. Traumatized moles, however,
if removed, can show abnormal features under a microscope even if they are not
cancerous.
The
usual scenario is that a traumatized mole might look scary for a few days but
it should heal the same way traumatized skin anywhere heals, back to its
normal appearance after about two weeks. If it doesn't heal, see a doctor.
The
majority of melanomas originate from normal skin, entirely independent of
moles. We know that individuals with large numbers of moles on their body,
especially ones called ‘atypical’ or ‘dysplastic’ moles, have a higher risk for
melanoma. This is probably based on mutated genes that affect normal skin as well as moles. The number of moles may
simply be one sign of innate genetic programming or altered genes from
ultraviolet light. Fortunately, there are also genes that limit the growth of
most moles for a lifetime unless they also become mutated.
CAN
ANYTHING BE DONE TO PREVENT MELANOMA?
Melanoma
is a potentially deadly cancer. One out of every eight individuals with
melanoma dies from melanoma. You definitely DO NOT want to get a melanoma if
you can avoid it. So the question about picking as a risk factor is an
important one simply because you have control over it.
The only controllable behavior associated with both increased numbers of moles
and melanoma risk is EXPOSURE TO ULTRA-VIOLET LIGHT. Ultraviolet light from sun
or tanning beds has the potential to alter genes that can lead to more moles
and increased risk of melanoma. Genetic studies are still in early stages, but
there is enough epidemiological evidence to link ultraviolet light with
melanoma in many cases (though not those that occur in skin of color).
Persons
of light color (red hair, freckles, blue eyes, etc.) and those with many moles
should make every effort to avoid exposure to the sun, starting in early childhood. And concerning
sunscreens: don’t be fooled into thinking that they fully protect against sun
damage and skin cancer. They partially protect against sunburn, so people often
think they can stay out longer, which explains some of the theories that
sunscreens cause skin cancer when it
is really the increased sun damage in most cases.
In
summary, the only real control we have to prevent melanoma is to avoid sun
exposure and UV tanning beds. It does not provide complete protection, but it’s
the best we have.
An important measure, while not prevention per se, is to monitor your skin with
a Skin Self Exam. Look at your skin and your moles once per month
approximately. If you see obvious new growth or new black color in the space of
a month or two, see a doctor, get it checked. Many cases of melanoma become
deadly because of delays in diagnosis. Some links:
So, in
conclusion, don’t pick at your moles, monitor them regularly. And don’t be foolish in the sun.
Best
regards,
January 20, 2013
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