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Skin Cancer Early Detection: How to Check Moles and Spots
for Signs or Symptoms
Thousands of people are plagued with skin cancer each year.
In fact, Melanoma is one of the most deadly forms of skin
cancer. It can spread extremely quickly and often patients
have no idea they even have this deadly cancer before it?s
progressed far into their body. This is most due to the fact
Melanoma doesn?t often present symptoms until it has
progressed greatly.
Another common skin cancer is Carcinoma (basal cell carcinoma
and squamous cell carcinoma included) which progresses much
slower, but is just as difficult to diagnose. Most people
understand sun damage can lead to these horrific cancers.
While people understand these cancers are very serious, they
often have no idea what to look for in regards to being
warning signs of skin cancer. If you have suspicious moles or
want to know how to identify skin cancer, use these tips.
1.The first step to screening yourself for possibly suspicious
moles is to set a routine. Make sure you check and examine
your body regularly. Make note of any area featuring something
unusual or any change in the skin (blistered skin, spot,
sunburn, skin rashes, lesions, sores or other issues). You may
need a magnifying mirror for this or a digital camera to take
photos of anything you feel is unusual. You can always ask a
family member to help you with this task.
2.Look at each mole you have to check for asymmetry. If your
mole is much different on one side than it is on the other,
it?s likely suspicious. Look at the size of the mole, the
color of the mole and take note of when you discovered it.
You will need to talk with a dermatologist for a proper
diagnosis of these.
3.Look at any skin rashes you see. Look at the size, the color
and the shape of the rash. Make notes to share with your doctor
and document if you suspect the rash is a result of an allergy
of some type. There are many types of rashes and their causes
vary greatly. Thus, a rash alone is not often a warning sign.
However, sometimes a rash called actinic keratosis can be a
precursor to skin cancer. It?s often seen as a rough, dry skin
lesion. It?s often limited to one area and is gray, pink or
red. Sometimes it starts as a flat, scaly area of skin and
then turns into a hard surface.
While it?s important to check your body for possible signs of
skin cancer, remember most moles are benign and not malignant.
So, even if you find a suspicious mole there is no reason to
panic. Instead, make an appointment with your doctor and get
it checked out further.
In the meantime, it?s vital to protect your skin on a daily
basis. Often ladies understand the importance of protecting
themselves from sun damage and sunburn when they are planning
to be outdoors for an extended period of time. However, there
is a great deal of sun damage occurring simply by being
outdoors for short periods or even driving in a car on a daily
basis. Instead of simply wearing sunscreen when you hit the
pool or the beach, be sure to be using lotions on your face,
hands and body that have included SPF protection with them.
This provides a very easy way to fit sunscreen into your daily
routine and can help protect you on a daily basis.
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