Your annual skin check catches what you might miss. But some changes shouldn't wait 12 months. If a mole has changed, a spot appeared out of nowhere, or a sore won't heal, that's your signal to call sooner.
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Dermatologists use the ABCDE method to evaluate suspicious spots. These five criteria help distinguish normal moles from potential melanoma. If a spot meets one or more of these, schedule a visit.
One half of the mole doesn't match the other. Normal moles are roughly symmetrical.
Edges are ragged, notched, or blurred instead of smooth and well-defined.
Multiple shades of brown, black, red, white, or blue within a single spot.
Larger than 6mm, roughly the size of a pencil eraser. Though some melanomas start smaller.
Any change in size, shape, color, or symptoms like itching, bleeding, or crusting over time.
Not every warning sign follows the ABCDE pattern.
If a spot scabs over, heals, then opens again repeatedly over several weeks, it could be basal cell carcinoma. These rarely spread, but they don't resolve on their own.
Squamous cell carcinoma often looks like a rough, scaly, reddish patch that persists. It may be flat or slightly raised. Common in sun-exposed areas like the face, ears, and hands.
Basal cell carcinoma can appear as a flesh-colored, pearl-like bump with visible blood vessels. It may look like a pimple that never goes away.
The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends checking your own skin once a month. Use a full-length mirror and a hand mirror to examine areas you can't see directly: your back, scalp, behind your ears, and between your toes. Take photos of spots so you can compare them month to month.
Self-exams don't replace professional screenings. They fill the gap between annual visits. If you notice anything that matches the warning signs above, don't wait for your next scheduled appointment.
Many skin cancers develop in places that are hard to inspect yourself. Your dermatologist checks your entire body, including your scalp and back, with trained eyes and specialized tools. That annual visit is your best defense.
Set a dermatologist check reminder so your next screening doesn't slip through the cracks. Early detection changes outcomes more than anything else.
Asymmetry (one half doesn't match the other), Border irregularity (edges are ragged or blurred), Color variation (multiple shades of brown, black, red, or blue), Diameter larger than 6mm (about the size of a pencil eraser), and Evolving (changing in size, shape, or color over time).
See your dermatologist before your next scheduled check if you notice a new mole, a spot that has changed in size or color, a sore that won't heal, or any area that bleeds, itches, or crusts repeatedly.
Yes. Some skin cancers develop from existing moles, but many appear as entirely new growths. Melanoma can develop in weeks. Regular self-exams help you catch new spots between annual dermatologist visits.
Early melanoma often looks like an irregular brown or black spot with uneven borders. Basal cell carcinoma may appear as a pearly or waxy bump. Squamous cell carcinoma can look like a red, scaly patch that doesn't heal.
The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends a head-to-toe self-exam once a month. Use a full-length mirror and a hand mirror to check areas you can't see directly, including your back and scalp.
Set a free annual skin check reminder. Catching it early is the difference between a minor procedure and major treatment.
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