Skin Cancer Signs and Symptoms

By Mid-Atlantic Skin

Mid-Atlantic Skin

. https://midatlanticskinsurgery.com/

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Skin Cancer Signs and Symptoms

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S. and will affect one in five Americans in their lifetime.

The good news is that skin cancer is highly treatable when diagnosed early. For this reason, women and men should routinely inspect their faces and bodies for any skin cancer signs and symptoms.

Continue reading to learn how to evaluate marks and address potential malignancies in their earliest stages.

Skin Cancer Signs and Symptoms

Skin cancer can present in a number of different ways. That’s why it’s important for individuals to perform monthly self-exams and schedule an annual skin cancer screening with a board-certified dermatologist.

The most common sign of skin cancer is an abnormal pink or brown spot, patch, or mole. Other issues to lookout for include a sore that won’t heal or a mark that is different in appearance than others on the face or body.

Itching, pain, tenderness, oozing, scaliness, or bleeding in a mole or redness or new swelling outside the border of a mole are also cause for concern.

If you notice any of these skin cancer signs or symptoms, you should contact your physician for further evaluation.

Identifying Melanoma

While basal and squamous cell carcinomas are the most common forms of skin cancer, melanoma is the deadliest. Accordingly, patients should use the ABCDE method to spot melanoma skin cancer signs and symptoms.

Here are five ways to evaluate a suspicious mole.

• Asymmetry – When one side of a mole is different than the other, it could be a sign of melanoma.
• Border – Irregular borders that are uneven, scalloped, or notched can also suggest melanoma.
• Color – Another indication of melanoma is a mole with varying shades of tan, brown, or black to red, blue, or white.
• Diameter – Moles that are greater than the size of a pencil eraser are more likely to be malignant than those that are smaller.
• Evolution – A changing mole is another red flag, and you should report any evolution to your dermatologist.

Learn More About Skin Cancer Signs and Symptoms

If you would like additional information about skin cancer signs and symptoms, please schedule a skin cancer screening with a board-certified dermatologist.