1) Remove a mole is dangerous! Wrong: you can remove a mole at any time, if you skin mole is cancerous or irregular, it’s best that you have it removed surgically
2) If a mole bleeds is always dangerous! Wrong:melanoma spontaneously bleeds but if a mole is cut (razor or other injury) bleeds like any other part of the skin. Always you must get a mole check up
3) Exposure to sunlight is always dangerouse! Wrong: exposure to sunlight has a positive effect on osteoporosis. You have to espose with moderation to UV, avoid the central hours of the day and long exposures.
4) You can’t have two melanomas! Wrong:some patients may develop more melanomas, particularly patients with familial melanoma
5) The sunscreen should be applied once a day! Wrong: the protective effect of sunscreen is time limited (about 2 hours) and after swimming or showering they should be reapplied.
6) The UV lamps protect from solar radiation! Wrong: UV rays are very harmful, damage induced by UV lamps could play a major role in melanoma occurrence
7) Bergamot allows me to tan more! Wrong: bergamot is a photosensitizer and its carcinogenicity is proven, so it must be absolutely excluded from all tanning products,
8) Tattoos over moles don’t create problema! Wrong:tattoo don’t permit to checkup moles, and they may hide a melanoma.
9) Boating does not increase exposure to the sun! Wrong: people who go by boat should protect more.
10) Melanoma’s death rate is higher for those with darker skin! True: more skin cancers go undetected in people with darker skin, they’re frequently diagnosed later when the cancer has had a chance to grow deeper, so they have a higher risk of metastases and death
11) Hairy Moles are Always Benign! Wrong: most moles with hair are benign, but there are exceptions
12) Skin Cancer is Confined to White Caucasians! Wrong: most patients with melanoma are Caucasian, people of all races and colors may develop melanoma.
13) Dark-skinned people don’t have melanoma! Wrong: We find melanoma in blacks, hispanics or asians..