As summer draws near, it’s a great time to think about the preventative measures you take to protect your skin all year round. This includes as the sunscreen you’re and considering the amount of the time you spend in the sun. One of the most important preventative measures you can take is learning how to give a proper skin self-exam.  Being proactive and keeping an eye on skin abnormalities helps with early detection of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. If caught early, melanoma is highly treatable, meaning regular mole screenings can help prevent the disease from becoming harmful to your body. But how do you know when you need to take a mole to a doctor? Easy -- just follow your A, B, C’s:
 
Asymmetry: Moles that are not a round shape
Border irregularities: Moles with edges that are not smooth
Color variation: Moles that produce more than one color
Diameter: Moles that are larger than an eraser of a pencil (6mm)
Enlarging lesion: Moles that grow in size
First time: Moles that have newly appeared
 
How to screen yourself:
Moles develop throughout your body – not in just areas that are exposed to sunlight. Starting from your feet and moving to your head, you should locate and examine each mole you come across. Every mole has the potential of being cancerous and should be noted to easily reference if a mole changes. The American Academy of Dermatology has a useful Body Mole Map for download for keeping track of moles.
 
If a mole follows any of these signs, you should have it examined by a physician as soon as possible. It should also be noted that melanoma can also be found in various sizes and may not resemble all features mentioned above. Because of this, routine skin check-ups should be scheduled with your doctor to prevent cancerous moles from becoming undetected.
 
If you would like to learn more information about skin cancer or to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist, call (407) 303-1700.