With summer in full swing, it’s important to remember the dangers of overexposure to UV rays and the effect the sun can have on your skin. Take time to learn the warning signs of skin cancer from the American Cancer Society:
Visual changes in size, shape or color to a spot on your skin can be a sign of skin cancer and is something you should tell your doctor about. Another warning sign is a spot that looks different from all of the other spots on your skin.
Use the ABCDE rule to help detect signs of melanoma:
- A is for Asymmetry: One half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other.
- B is for Border: The edges are irregular, ragged, notched or blurred.
- C is for Color: The color is not the same all over and may include different shades of brown or black, or sometimes with patches of pink, red, white or blue.
- D is for Diameter: The spot is larger than about ¼ inch (the size of a pencil eraser), although melanomas can sometimes be smaller than this.
- E is for Evolving: The mole is changing in size, shape or color.
Be sure to show your doctor any areas that concern you and ask your doctor to look at areas that may be hard for you to see. Lake Health dermatologists have expertise in many skin conditions – including skin cancers. Find a physician near you.
Sources: American Cancer Society
