Health Tools. By Madeline R. Reviewed: July 8, Medically Reviewed. Cherry hemangiomas. Small red dots that are smaller than a pencil eraser, these are caused by an overgrowth of blood vessels in the skin. They are common and can appear anywhere, but they are not linked to skin cancer.
These are flat, tan-to-dark spots that look similar to freckles. They usually range from the size of a pencil eraser to the size of a dime, but they could be bigger or smaller.
These are what most people typically think of as age spots or liver spots. They are usually located on sun-exposed areas of the skin. Seborrheic keratoses. These can be flat or raised and range from pale to dark brown or black. The ABCDEs of detecting skin cancer is a helpful acronym to use when doing a self-examination of your skin.
Checking your skin at least once a month can help you stay on top of your skin health, as well as increase the likelihood of detecting skin cancer sooner than later. If you are at a higher risk of developing skin cancer, talk to your doctor about how often you should do self-exams, and have professional screenings. Higher risk individuals may include:. From limiting the appearance of age spots to reducing your risk of developing skin cancer, here are some tips to protect your skin:.
If you are concerned about your risk of developing skin cancer, we can help. To learn more about cancer screening, treatment and prevention, contact The Parrish Cancer Center today at Age spots can also group together which makes them more obvious. If you are unhappy with how they look, it is possible to use bleaching cream to lighten them and appear less noticeable. Melanoma can change color over time, but spots are typically black or dark brown and have ragged edges.
They can also be painful or itchy. Be sure to see a doctor as soon as possible if a spot has these early signs of melanoma:. Keep in mind, melanoma is curable if found in its early stages. Once it spreads, it can compromise internal organs and lead to serious and even fatal outcomes.
Skin cancer of all types and melanoma included are caused by exposure to the sun. Often this exposure took place when the older adult was younger. Even so, it is never too late to start preventing future damage. The easiest way to do so is to follow a few sun safety tips including the following:.
While age spots may simply be something an older adult has to live with, melanoma is a different matter altogether. By following a few sun safety tips, you can help prevent skin cancer from occurring in the first place, and with a diligent eye, you can ensure melanoma is caught and treated quickly.
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