Understanding melanoma risk factors can be lifesaving for you or someone you love. May is Melanoma Awareness Month, a time to educate and raise awareness about this potentially fatal form of skin cancer. Understanding your risks and recognizing early signs of melanoma is crucial for prevention and early detection.
Get Checked During Melanoma Awareness Month
Melanoma Awareness Month serves as a reminder to prioritize your skin health. You can schedule a comprehensive skin check with a dermatologist to take preventive measures.
Regular skin exams can help detect melanoma in its early stages when it’s most treatable. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Take action during Melanoma Awareness Month to protect yourself and your loved ones from this serious disease.
Identifying Melanoma Risk Factors
Early detection of melanoma greatly increases the chances of successful treatment. Understanding the early signs of melanoma can help you identify suspicious changes on your skin and seek prompt medical attention.
Here are some elaborations on the ABCDEs of melanoma:
- Asymmetry: Normal moles are typically symmetrical, meaning if you were to draw a line through the center, both halves would match. Melanomas often have irregular shapes.
- Border Irregularity: Unlike regular moles with smooth, well-defined borders, the borders of melanomas may be irregular, scalloped, or notched. They may appear blurred or blend into the surrounding skin.
- Color Variation: Most moles are a single shade of brown or black. Melanomas can have multiple colors or shades within them. They may contain areas of brown, black, red, white, or blue pigmentation.
- Diameter: While melanomas can be small, they often grow larger than typical moles. Any mole larger than 6 millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser) needs immediate medical attention.
- Evolution: Pay attention to any changes in size, shape, color, or elevation of moles. Changes such as itching, bleeding, crusting, or oozing should also raise concern.
Schedule a Skin Cancer Screening Session in Texas
During Melanoma Awareness Month, take proactive steps and call us at 210-494-0504. Schedule an appointment with Stone Oak Dermatology and familiarize yourself with the early signs of melanoma. Remember, early detection can save your life.
