Pregnant women are at high risk of melanoma

Young women are more likely to develop melanoma during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the color of the skin (such as cheeks, nipples, and the line from the navel to the pubic bone) will darken, and the shape and size of the moles may change. It is easy for people to associate the two and think that the two are related. A study shows that the depth of melanoma in pregnant women is deeper than that in non-pregnant women.

Malignant melanoma develops rapidly in women during pregnancy or childbearing age, suggesting that the disease is related to endocrine. Although melanoma may occur during pregnancy, pregnancy does not increase the possibility of pigmented moles becoming melanoma. However, the bad thing is that melanoma cells that enter the body will reach the placenta through blood circulation.

How can melanoma be prevented?

First, prevention of melanoma starts with self-examination of the skin, paying attention to changes in moles and moles on the body, especially for the high-risk groups mentioned above. Before self-examination of the skin, take a photo of the moles, birthmarks or pigmented spots on the body as a "memorial" so that you can compare them with skin changes later. Before the examination, you should also understand the location, appearance and feel of your birthmarks, moles and spots in advance.

How to conduct a self-examination? After taking a bath, doctors usually recommend that patients with advanced melanoma undergo a pathological examination of the placenta after delivery. The director of dermatology at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia believes that the placenta is a natural barrier to protect the fetus, and it is very rare for the mother's melanoma to transfer to the fetus, even if the placenta has been invaded. People have found cases of melanoma metastasizing to the placenta, but it never affects the fetus. Most doctors recommend that female patients at risk of metastasis undergo a pathological examination of the placenta after the diagnosis of melanoma.

In a well-lit room, prepare two mirrors, one large and one small, for examination. You will also need a flashlight, a long enough mirror, a small mirror, and two chairs or stools. Do not miss the back, scalp, buttocks, soles, genitals, and areas of persistent skin pain. The main contents of the examination include: new moles (especially those with abnormal appearance), whether the size, shape, color or texture of the original moles have changed, etc.

Finally, do not deal with moles on your body blindly. If you find a problematic mole or one that has changed, you must go to a specialist hospital as soon as possible.