You step out of the shower, dry yourself with a towel, and accidentally scratch a raised mole. It hurts a little, and your mind starts racing with worst-case scenarios. You panic. The mole looks strange, and you also know you haven’t used sunscreen much this year on vacation. Stay calm and first read about how to recognize a dangerous skin mole.
Doctors diagnose around 3,500 patients with melanoma annually, and the numbers are growing. Due to these alarming statistics, it’s important to prioritize prevention and responsibly care for your skin.
- Protect Your Skin:
- Conduct self-skin exams,
- Regularly get dermatoscopic checks of moles.
Skin Protection
The development of skin melanoma is significantly influenced by direct sunlight. It has been proven that UV radiation exposure greatly increases the risk of melanoma. While tanned skin may look appealing, it is not beneficial for your health.
So, the next time you go on vacation in the summer or are gardening, remember to use sunscreen. Choose a sunscreen with a high enough SPF factor, which indicates how long you can stay in the sun without getting sunburned. The ideal SPF depends on your skin type and the intensity of the sun exposure you’ll be facing.
Tip: Read more tips on how to protect your skin during the summer.
Skin self-examination:
You may have heard of breast self-exams, but did you know you can also perform a skin self-exam, particularly for moles? This is important because atypical moles are one of the main signs of skin cancer. How to perform a self-exam?
Apply the ABCDE rule – a simple tool to help you recognize potentially dangerous moles that could indicate skin melanoma. Each letter in ABCDE corresponds to a characteristic of the mole to look for during the self-exam.
- A – Asymmetry: An asymmetric shape, with noticeable differences between sides, is a common sign of dangerous moles.
- B – Border: Another characteristic to pay attention to when checking moles is their borders. Dangerous moles often have irregular, jagged, or blurry edges, unlike smooth and well-defined ones.
- C – Color: A mole with uneven color or multiple shades could indicate potential issues. If your mole has irregular pigmentation, it’s important to give it extra attention and consult a dermatologist.
- D – Diameter: Another characteristic that can help determine whether a mole is dangerous is its diameter. Moles with a diameter larger than 6 mm should be examined by a dermatologist.
- E – Elevation: If you have a raised mole on your body for years, there’s no immediate need to rush to a doctor. However, it’s advisable to see a dermatologist if a flat mole becomes raised or if its shape or structure changes in any way.
Mole examination
Self-examination helps identify potentially dangerous moles, but only a professional dermatological examination can accurately determine whether a mole is risky and if removal is necessary. Regular check-ups are essential for early detection and proactive care.
You can have not only risky and malignant moles removed but also those that bother you for aesthetic reasons. Currently, there are effective and tissue-friendly methods for removing moles, warts, and other skin growths. These procedures are minimally invasive and designed to preserve surrounding tissue for optimal results. For more details, consult a professional dermatologist.
Dermatologists recommend a yearly skin mole check-up. However, if you notice a suspicious mole on your body, it’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible. Regular check-ups help ensure you’re doing everything for your health, avoiding neglect, and providing peace of mind for early melanoma detection.