How does lentigo maligna melanoma affect the body?

Honor Society of Nursing (STTI)

Lentigo maligna melanoma is caused by the overproduction of certain skin cells called melanocytes, which are the cells that produce skin pigment. This cell overgrowth usually forms on areas of skin that are exposed to sunlight, most commonly the nose and cheeks but also anywhere on the head and neck. The lesions caused by lentigo maligna melanoma look like large, flat, irregularly-shaped tan patches. Lentigo maligna melanoma begins in the epidermis, or topmost layer of skin, and usually spread across the skin's surface. If left untreated, lentigo maligna melanoma may spread deeper into the skin and may eventually spread to other parts of the body.

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Melanoma

The most serious type of skin cancer, melanoma affects the cells that give our skin its color. Although it can spread easily, it is curable when treated early. This cancer forms when the cells that make melanin grow abnormally or do not die when they should. These cells, called melanocytes, are found in our skin’s outer layer. Melanoma typically begins in a mole or birthmark but can form in other tissues with pigmentation, such as your eye. When melanoma develops in the eye, it is called Intraocular Melanoma. Protect yourself by avoiding overexposure from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Stay vigilant of any changes in your skin, especially if you have the skin disease Xeroderma pigmentosum, which makes you sensitive to light. You are also more likely to develop melanoma if someone in your family has been previously diagnosed with this specific type of cancer.

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