Do you have a suspicious looking mole or spot?
Doing monthly skin checkups is the best way to find new marks or skin changes. During your skin checkups, be sure to follow the ABCDEs of skin checks. This means checking moles or other growths for Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, and Evolving (changing). Note, too, any new growths, or, if any of your growths bleed, itch, look different, or are painful.
Check your moles or growth for signs of melanoma using ABCDE:
Asymmetry: the sides of the mole or growth don’t match
Border: the edges are ragged, notched, or blurred
Color: the color within the mole or growth varies
Diameter: the mole or growth is larger than 6 mm (size of a pencil eraser)
Evolving: the size, shape, or color of the mole or growth is changing (evolving is not shown below)
The American Cancer Society advises a skin screening if you notice:
- Any change on your skin, especially in the size or color of a mole or other darkly pigmented growth or spot, or a new growth.
- Scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or change in the appearance of a bump or nodule.
- The spread of pigmentation beyond its border, such as dark coloring that spreads past the edge of a mole or mark.
- A change in sensation, itchiness, tenderness, or pain.
Spectrum Health Lakeland offers free skin screenings throughout the year, for more information on when the next available screening day is, call (269) 556-2808 or (866) 260-7544.