Why is it important to keep a close watch on atypical moles?

Why is it important to keep a close watch on atypical moles?

Harry Saperstein, MD, FAAD (Dermatologist, Clinical Assoc. Professor, Medicine, Private Practice and UCLA) gives expert video advice on: How effective is sun block?; How much sun block should I use and how often should I use it to protect my skin?; Why is it important to keep a close watch on atypical moles? and more...

Atypical moles are felt to be somewhat fragile, in the sense that they have a greater propensity for change. That change would not be a change toward normality, but rather a change toward abnormality, and so atypical moles do need to be watched and checked on some sort of monthly basis, preferably by the patient, and perhaps once or twice a year by a dermatologist. There are patients, as I mentioned, with multiple atypical nevi, and these people are at a much significantly greater risk of developing the malignant melanoma form of skin cancer.