Known as the most aggressive type of skin cancer, melanoma or cutaneous melanoma may be fatal if left untreated. Malignant (cancerous) melanoma often presents itself as a black or brown mole, but it can also be pink or tan in appearance. It originates in the pigmented cells (melanocytes) of the epidermis and is often caused by excessive sun exposure or ultraviolet light. When the melanocytes are damaged (from sun exposure), it causes a DNA mutation, which creates malignant tumors. If you have a mole that has grown or changed over time, call Clear Skin Dermatology to schedule a skin screening with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Rachel Epstein. During your consult, Dr. Epstein can examine your skin and perform a biopsy to determine if you have a cancerous melanoma.

It can be challenging to spot malignant skin cells when you may not know or understand what to watch out for. This is why it's crucial to meet with a board-certified dermatologist, like Dr. Epstein, to have your skin screened to map out moles and identify malignant skin cells as early as possible. Dr. Epstein will also educate you on signs to look out for with the ABCDE rules:

A: Asymmetrical mole (one side is larger than the other)

B: Borders on the mole (a malignant mole will not have a defined, smooth border)

C: Color (a malignancy will be various colors throughout the mole)

D: Diameter (benign moles usually stay small, but malignancies will start to spread out)

E: Evolving (cancer cells in a malignant mole will keep evolving and changing the appearance of the skin)

Melanomas are known to be caused by genetics and excessive sun exposure. You are also at a higher risk of developing melanoma if your parent or family has a history of skin cancer. Your chances increase if you have:

Treatment for melanoma at Clear Skin Dermatology is based on the subtype of the malignancy, staging, size, location, and depth. Dr. Epstein's first step will be to perform a thorough full-body exam, perform a biopsy of any suspicious moles, blood work, and possibly take a PET or CT scan to determine a diagnosis. From there, she will review all your treatment options, which may include excision, Mohs surgery, electrodesiccation and curettage (ED&C), or topical chemotherapy cream (also see our non-melanoma page for more information regarding treatment).