Skin cancer accounts for about 5% of all cancer cases. Such cancer most often affects areas of the body that are not protected from solar radiation. Carcinogenic substances, ionizing radiation and other factors can also contribute to the development of skin cancer. The presence of a large number of moles on the body – one of the indicators of the likelihood of developing the most dangerous type of skin cancer – melanoma. However, it is not necessary to count the number of moles on the body in order to judge the risk of developing melanoma – it is enough just to count the number of moles on the right hand.
Number of moles on the right hand and the likelihood of developing melanoma
You can estimate the risk of developing skin cancer without counting the number of moles on the whole body. Counting can be done in just one area – this conclusion was made by British scientists in 2015.
The number of moles on the right hand, as the researchers concluded, is related to the total number of moles on the body. Therefore, they suggest that everyone examine the right hand and count the number of moles:
- more than 7 moles on the right hand, most likely indicates the presence of more than 50 moles on the whole body;
- Those who count more than 11 moles on their right arm are likely to have around 100 moles on their body.
Each mole increases the risk of developing melanoma by 2–4%.
More than 3,500 fair-skinned female twins participated in the study. During the study, in addition to the number of moles, the following indicators were recorded:
- skin type;
- hair color;
- eye color;
- presence or absence of freckles.
After that, the group of volunteers was significantly expanded, including men among the participants.
What to do if you have more than 7 (11) moles on your right hand?
If you counted more than 7 (11) moles on your right hand, don't panic – this does not mean that you will definitely find skin cancer. The primary goal of such a self-examination is a timely visit to the doctor: the sooner the patient learns about the risk of developing melanoma, the sooner he should be examined. And the sooner the doctor diagnoses the disease, the greater the chances of successful treatment.
The number of moles on the right hand is also a great clue for dermatologists – the doctor will be able to quickly determine whether an in-depth diagnosis of a particular patient is needed.
Melanoma is common in 15-40 year olds (18% of cases), indicating its high incidence in this age group compared to other types of cancer (only 4%). Most often, melanoma develops from a pre-existing birthmark, so the following should alert you:
- changing the shape of an existing mole;
- Change in the usual color of the mole;
- increase in size of the mole;
- itching or bleeding in the area of the skin growth (new or existing).
A large number of moles on your right arm means you need to see a dermatologist regularly and ensure good sun protection.
Recall that earlier NICE (National Institute of Health of Great Britain) stated: "There is no safe tanning." Therefore, experts emphasize: it is necessary to apply a sunscreen with a factor of at least 15 SPF half an hour before going out into the sun, especially if you find a large number of birthmarks on your body. The optimal amount of applied protective agent – about 6-8 teaspoons. Of course, this amount varies depending on the individual's physique, but protective equipment should cover all exposed areas of the body.
As for the amount of time you can (and need to produce vitamin D) in the sun, it depends on many factors:
- geographic location;
- season;
- time of day;
- weather conditions;
- natural skin color.
However, all experts agree on one – tanning is not to be abused. For the synthesis of vitamin D, short-term regular exposure to the sun is sufficient. But long-term skin damage caused by sun exposure not only accelerates skin aging, but also increases the risk of developing cancer, including melanoma.
Add a comment