At our Las Vegas, NV office, Summerlin Dermatology has a board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Reuel Aspacio, who is trained and ready to diagnose and treat melanoma. Known as the most aggressive type of skin cancer, melanoma may be fatal. Malignant (cancerous) melanoma often presents as a changing mole. Although it usually manifests as a dark spot, melanoma may have multiple colors or no color at all.

Melanocytes (pigmented cells in the epidermis) may turn malignant when there is damage to the DNA of the cells (usually from the sun or ultraviolet light exposure). The damage to these cells causes mutations in its DNA, which begins a genetic defect to develop in the skin. Melanocytes can rapidly reproduce and create tumors. You may first see them as a mole or an older mole that has started to change shape or color. Melanomas can be black or brown but are more difficult to spot if they are skin-colored, pink, or white. If you have a suspicious mole or lesion on your skin, remember that early diagnosis and treatment are both very important in saving your life if you have a melanoma.

Melanomas are known to be caused by genetics and sun exposure. With genetic links, melanoma in a primary relative (parent, sibling, or child) increases your risk of developing a malignancy. Your chances increase if you have:

• Blue, green, or grey eyes
• Light colored or red hair
• Had a sunburn in the past (or multiple sunburns)
• Tanned in a tanning bed
• Excessive sun exposure (even if it did not lead to a sunburn)

Also, having moles on the skin can be a risk factor for developing a melanoma. Knowing what an atypical mole looks like and what the warning signs are can put you in a greater position to get the treatment you need sooner.

Malignant skin cells can be challenging to recognize especially if you are not sure what to look for on your skin. Having regular skin cancer screenings by a trained eye like a dermatologist can be a great resource to keep your skin cancer free. We educate our patients on the presenting symptoms of a melanoma with the ABCDE rules of skin cancer signs. These rules can be invaluable in saving your life:

• 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)

While some moles or freckles may share some of these common characteristics, you should always make an appointment with your dermatologist or trusted doctor to have these concerning features checked out.

Treatment for a melanoma at Summerlin Dermatology is based on the subtype of the malignancy, staging, size, location, and the depth and extent of the intervention. Once a diagnosis is established, Dr. Aspacio will discuss the appropriate treatments for you. If needed, Dr. Aspacio works with multiple specialists to assist in your overall melanoma treatment. Additional diagnostic testing may be needed such as blood work, PET or CT scan, and a lymph node biopsy may also be a part of your treatment.

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive types of cancer you can develop. Our goal at Summerlin Dermatology is to educate our patients about skin cancer development and what to do when an abnormal spot arises. Not only do we assess for melanomas and skin cancers, we can help a patient who would like to reevaluate their current skin care regimen to include better protections with Dr. Aspacio-approved sunscreens. If you notice changes in your moles or other skin lesions, please make an appointment at our Las Vegas, NV office today.