Know signs of skin cancer
Summer weather is here. As sunshine and shorts come out remember to protect your skin from sun damage and know the signs of skin cancer. By wearing sunscreen and protective clothing you can prevent future skin cancer. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 5 million people are treated for skin cancer every year. Whether ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun or from a tanning bed either can cause skin cancer changes in any type of skin tone and this damage builds up from each and every exposure.
- Light colored fair skin
- Skin that easily burns or turns red when exposed to the sun
- Repeated sunburns
- Freckled skin
- Light eyes (blue and green) and hair (blonde and red)
- Multiple moles
- Indoor tanning
Types of Skin Cancer
There are two broad categories of skin cancer: melanoma and non-melanoma. The most common types of non-melanoma cancers are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma depending on which layer of the skin is affected. These cancers tend to look more like a pimple patch of dry skin wart or sore that does not go away. Melanoma is often dark in color flat and changing in shape size and color.
What are the signs of skin cancer?
Skin cancer is most common on sun exposed skin such as face, ears, neck, arms, and legs. Monitor your skin for the symptoms below.
Non-melanoma
- Pink or red bump on the skin (may look like a pimple that does not go away)
- Swollen shiny or peeling area
- Thick crusty skin
- Bleeding
- Looks like a sore or a wart that does not go away
- Pre-cancerous changes may appear as dry skin with scales bumps or are rough to touch
Melanoma - when should I be concerned about my moles?
- A - asymmetrical (irregular shape)
- B - border jagged or irregular edges
- C - color multiple colors within the same mole
- D - diameter: is the mole larger than a pea?
- E - evolving: is the mole changing in size? Color?
If you notice an area of your skin that concerns you, please contact your primary care doctor.
For more information check out CDC articles on skin cancer.(https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/index.htm).