Understanding the warning signs of skin cancer and melanoma is your first step in staying proactive about your health. The good news is that skin cancers and melanoma are not typically hidden cancers. They do have evident symptoms if people just take the time to get to know their skin. This means completing a routine self-examination of your entire body, including the scalp through the soles of the feet, to record all moles and skin irregularities.
This body map can then be used with the next self-examination and any changes in the ABCD and E of the moles or skin irregularities documented. The ABCD stands for asymmetry, border, color and diameter of the mole and the E stands for the evolution or change noted in the moles on the body. In general the more irregularities on the mole the more likely it is to be atypical, also known as dysplastic nevi. While not all melanoma starts directly at the site of a mole it is very often beside an existing or new mole.1
Small or Large Changes In Existing Moles
Skin cancer warning signs most commonly include changes in the existing moles on the body. This can sometimes be overlooked if people are not sure of what the mole used to look like before they noticed what seems to be a difference. The most common changes noted are changes in color or shape.
The color of the mole may change normally over time and with age. Most moles become darker as a child ages to adulthood and then again begin to fade. This is gradual process without any sudden or dramatic pigmentation changes. It also happens uniformly over the surface of the mole. If any changes within the mole are noted with regards to darker or lighter patches it should be examined by a dermatologist as soon as possible. For smaller moles slightly color variations may be hard to detect until the change is very obvious.
Using a bright light that can be focused directly on the skin is helpful in noting even slight color variations. Watch particularly for blotchy or spotty moles that have dark and light spots within border of the mole. Moles that have very unusual color changes that can include an orange color, reds, blues or even white patches need to be examined as soon as possible.
Keep in mind that your normal skin color will determine the color of the pigmentation of the mole. Lightered skinned people tend to have more moles and lighter moles than individuals with olive or dark skin tones.2
Changes in the texture, surface, size or shape of the mole is also a key warning sign. Moles may become significantly larger or become more raised and bumpy if skin cancer or melanoma is present. Moles that begin to be irritated, painful, itchy or that bleed or produce a liquid should be examined at the first possible
opportunity.3
Cuts That Don’t Heal
Any kind of existing or new skin lesion, cut or wound that does not heal within a reasonable time period should be checked by your doctor or dermatologist. This can include small cuts on the hands or arms or larger wounds on the body. Since wound healing can be influenced by a variety of health issues including autoimmune diseases having this checked out is very important.
Bumps And Lumps
Areas of the body that are exposed to the sun are more likely to develop skin cancer than areas that are not typically or routinely exposed to the sun or artificial tanning in tanning beds. Basal and squamous cell cancers have different early signs that are often mistaken for other skin conditions. Bumps that look waxy or translucent to pearl in color or very flat, brown types of lines that look like healed scars where an injury has not occurred in the past are often signs of basal cell carcinomas.
Squamous cell carcinoma often appears as a bright red bump or nodule that sticks up from the skin. It may seem to start to heal and then become more pronounced. Flat lesions that never seem to heal but have a dry, crusty type of surface are also typically associated with this type of skin cancer.4
Other Symptoms Of Concern
Other forms of skin cancer can develop that have very different signs and symptoms. Merkel cell carcinoma creates a grouping of small shiny bumps in the hair follicles or directly under the skin. Sebaceous gland carcinoma is typically found on the eyelid and is a very fast moving and aggressive cancer. It is often first noted by a small, painless, hard nodule just under the skin in the oil glands. Kaposi sarcoma, another rare type of skin cancer, creates purple to reddish patches on the surface of the skin.5
Since many of the early signs of skin cancers and melanoma can also be attributed to other health conditions it is essential to schedule a doctor’s appointment and see your family physician or dermatologist. Looking for the early signs of skin cancer and melanoma will help in early detection and treatment, limiting the damage that these cancers can cause if untreated.
References
1 How to Examine Your Skin. (n.d.). Retrieved from American Academy of Dermatology: www.aad.org/skin-conditions/skin-cancer-detection/about-skin-self-exams
2 Skin color and exposure to sunlight can affect the risk of developing nonmelanoma skin cancer and actinic keratosis. (2011 May 2). Retrieved from
American Cancer Institute: www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/skin/Patient/page1#Keypoint2
3 Skin Cancer: Basal and Squamous Cell. (2011 June 21). Retrieved from American Cancer Society: www.cancer.org/Cancer/SkinCancer-BasalandSquamousCell/DetailedGuide/skin-cancer-basal-and-squamous-cell-diagnosis
4 Skin Cancer:Signs and Symptoms. (n.d.). Retrieved from American Acadmey of Dermatology: www.aad.org/skin-conditions/dermatology-a-to-z/skin-cancer/signs-symptoms/skin-cancer-signs-and-symptoms
5 Skin Cancer. (n.d.). Retrieved from Mayo Clinic: www.mayoclinic.com/health/skin-cancer/DS00190/DSECTION=symptoms
______________________________________________________________
DISCLAIMER:
The content provided on this site is for informational purposes only. Our content is not medical advice you should seek a licensed physician or health professional regarding all health issues. SKIN-CANCER.ORG takes no responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, or application of medication which results from reading this site.
