Majority of Melanomas Not Associated with Moles

When speaking of melanoma, talk of moles frequently comes up. Specifically, talk about checking them for suspicious changes. This is important as melanoma can develop in existing moles. However, all skin on the body needs to be examined thoroughly. According to a new study, most cases of melanoma start off in new lesions.
Researchers examined 38 previously published medical studies involving melanoma. A total of 20,000 cases were involved. The analysis showed only 29% of melanomas started in existing moles. The remaining 71% started in new growths. Another important takeaway is that the cases that arose in new growths tended to be more aggressive than their counterparts.
Checking existing moles is important.  But it is just as important to keep track of your skin for any new growths, lesions, or patches. Melanoma is much easier to treat when it is caught early.
Source:
Pampena, R., et. al, “A Meta-Analysis of Nevus-Associated Melanoma: Prevalence and Practical Implications.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Published 08/29/2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2017.06.149