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Skin Health
When Vanity Pays Off: Check Yourself To Protect Against Skin Cancer
Medical Reviewer: Kimberly Bazar, MD Medically Reviewed On: March 20, 2006
With more than 1 million Americans diagnosed each year, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. If you have fair skin, a family history of skin cancer or a lot of moles, it's a good idea to be aware what’s going on with your skin and see a dermatologist regularly. Catching the disease early can often mean the difference between life and death.
Indeed, regular skin check ups are good idea for both sun lovers and shade dwellers alike. Experts recommend that you regularly check your skin, and keep the following steps in mind.
What Are You Looking For?
To protect against skin cancer, vanity helps. Focus on all your moles, freckles, blemishes and birthmarks. Be alert to any changes.
The most common skin cancers are basal and squamous cell, and they typically appear as pale, wax-like nodules. They can also turn up as red, scaly patches or a sore that does not heal.
The third type of skin cancer is melanoma and it is the deadliest, accounting for nearly 10,000 deaths a year. It generally begins as a small, mole-like growth.
To determine if a mole is potentially worrisome, doctors recommend the ABCD method of detection:
- Asymmetry—Does one half of a mole look different from the other?
- Border—Is the border, or edge, of the mole irregular, ragged or blurred?
- Color—Does the mole have various shades or colors within the same lesion?
- Diameter—Is the size of the mole greater than 6 millimeters (about a quarter inch), roughly the size of a pencil eraser?
People often dismiss abnormal skin lesions as "warts" or other benign things, but these can be serious, says Dr. Daniel Berg, director of dermatologic surgery at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. He also points out that many forget to check hard to see areas, like their backs or behind their legs. "Melanoma is common on these areas," Berg says.
Giving it the Once Over
In a well-lighted room, remove all clothing, stand in front of a full-length mirror and check your body from head to toe.
- Begin by examining the palms of your hands, between fingers, nails and forearms
- Flip your hands over and examine the top of your hands and forearms
- Lift your arms overhead and examine upper arm and armpits
- Stand with arms down and examine the entire front of the body starting with the neck, chest and torso
- Women should check in the skin folds under and between the breasts
- Men should check under the scrotum and penis
- Turn around to look at your buttocks, thighs and calves
- Using a handheld mirror examine your upper back, neck, shoulders and upper arms
- Sit down to examine your legs and feet, looking between the toes
- Using a hand-held mirror, examine your scalp using a hair dryer on a cool setting
- Examine your face, neck, head and behind your ears
See a Doctor When Lesions Look Lousy
If you find a suspicious lesion, don't ignore it. "Any persistent or changing lesion that looks like skin cancer should be checked by a primary care doctor or a dermatologist," says Berg. Surgery is highly effective at removing early cancerous growth, and catching it sooner than later might just save your life.
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