The first Monday in May is also known in the dermatology community as Melanoma Monday. Skin cancer awareness is an important mission of ours at Revival Dermatology, and melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer. Did you know that almost 20 Americans die of this cancer every day? These cancerous moles may appear suddenly in previously normal skin, or they may develop from a mole you’ve had your whole life. They are most commonly found on the back or lower legs, but can occur anywhere on the skin, even in places that don’t normally have sun exposure. If you spot anything changing, itching or bleeding, it’s a good idea to get it checked. Even if you think there is nothing new on your skin, dermatologists are highly trained to detect spots that you may not even be aware of yet. We encourage yearly skin exams because when caught early and treated properly by a board certified dermatologist, skin cancer is highly curable.
Spot Skin Cancer Early – Learn the ABCDEF’s of Melanoma
To help you spot skin cancer early, when it’s most treatable, the doctors at Revival Dermatology recommend that everyone learn the ABCDEFs of melanoma:
A is for Asymmetry: One half of the mole does not match the other.
B is for Border irregularity: The edges are not smooth, but instead are ragged, notched, or blurred.
C is for Color that varies throughout the mole or is changing over time.
D is for Diameter: While melanomas are usually larger than 6mm (the size of a pencil eraser) when diagnosed, they can be smaller and the doctors at Revival Dermatology have detected melanomas much smaller than 6mm.
E is for Evolving: A mole or skin lesion that is changing over time needs to be checked.
F is for Funny Looking: If something about a spot just looks “funny”, which we call the “ugly ducking sign” because it just doesn’t match your other spots, then it’s time to schedule a skin check.
