Skin Cancer Warning Signs - What To Look For And What To Do

People often worry about skin cancer and wonder what they should be on the look out for in the way of warning signs. People want to know what the most common signs are, and what they should and should not be concerned about when they look at themselves in the mirror. Sadly, there is no one telltale sign of skin cancer -- rather there is a package of skin changes you should keep an eye out for, checking constantly that your skin is free and clear of them. This is especially important for those who spend a great deal of time outdoors and those who had a lot of sunburns when they were younger.

While there is no one sign of skin cancer that is experienced by everyone who has it, there are a few warning signs that you should be aware of, signs that may or may not point to skin cancer. The first of these deals with moles - if you notice any new moles, or old moles that have changed in size or color (especially becoming larger or darker), you should see a doctor. These types of changes are often signs of malignant melanoma. The most dangerous form in its early stages, malignant melanoma often takes the form of a common mole before developing into a more serious condition.

The second warning sign you should keep an eye out for is the development of new open wounds. This is especially important if these wounds appear in places on which you have previously experienced sunburn, or places which have gotten a great amount of sun exposure over the years. These types of sores may be serious -- sometimes bleeding or emitting puss -- and often have irregular edges, a sign that cancerous sells may be involved and growing beyond the sore's boundaries.

Armed with the knowledge of these most common skin cancer warning signs, it is important to keep an eye out for them. Examine your skin relatively often, with these specific things in mind. If you spend a lot of time in the sun, you should make sure that you check your skin regularly for these warning signs, in order quickly spot the development of any potentially cancerous patches. If you spot something that you think may be a potential skin cancer warning sign, make an appointment with a dermatologist and have it looked at as soon as possible.

Skin Cancer Warning Signs

What are the skin cancer warning signs and what can be done to help prevent skin cancer?
In recent years, a lot of attention has been focused on the prevention of skin cancer. Of course, skin cancer is not a new disease but as scientists have learned more about how to prevent it, they realized that early detection is the key. It is important, therefore, that people are aware of what they can do to prevent skin cancer and what to keep an eye out for so that they can catch the cancer in time.
There are two main risk factors for skin cancer. The first is sun exposure. People who live in sunny areas, people who are continuously exposed to the sunlight, or people who were badly sunburned as children are all at a higher risk. Fair-skinned people are high risk as well. It is important that everyone be protected when they go out in the sun. Sunscreen should be worn all the time, even if the day seems cloudy or not that hot. This is especially important for those with fair skin and for children. If you are going to be exposed to the sun for a long period of time, you should try to cover up as much skin as possible with hats, long pants, or jackets. Young children should always wear a wide-brimmed hat when playing out in the sun. The second component of skin cancer risk is genetic. Some people are just more apt to get skin cancer than others. There is nothing you can do about this, but if you know you are at a greater risk because of your family, you should be even more vigilant in checking for skin cancer warning signs.
There are several types of skin cancer, and they all present slightly different. Melanoma is one of the rarer skin cancers, but it is also the most deadly. Catching melanoma early is important, so everyone should make checks of their bodies on a monthly basis, just like a monthly breast exam is recommended for women. One way to remember the warning signs of melanoma is the mnemonic “ABCDE.” The A stands for asymmetrical. Check any moles on your body. Asymmetrical moles could be malignant. B stand for border. If the border of the mole or mark looks irregular, then get it checked out. C stands for color. Moles that are multiple colors could be cancerous. D stands for diameter. If you have a mole that measures more than 5 mm, it is at greater risk for being a melanoma. E can stand for evolution or elevation. Evolution means how the mole has appeared over time. Has it changed color, shape, or size? This is a sign that cancer might be developing. Elevation means that mole is raised up above the skin. If you have any of these warning signs, you should make an appointment to see your doctor right away.
Skin cancer can present in different ways and a doctor will need to examine you to determine if a mole or area of skin needs to be checked further. A biopsy is usually done and the sample is checked for malignancy.
Early detection of skin cancer is important. Many doctors are including skin checks during yearly physicals. If you are concerned about an area of your body, discuss it with your doctor. They can let you know if more testing should be done.