HOW TO SPOT THE SIGNS OF SKIN CANCER
No matter your skin color, you have to check your skin regularly for signs of skin cancer. The first place to check is any area on your body that is sun-exposed:Your face,neck,hands,your back and legs,don't forget your arm if you hang it out the window while driving.
Balding men should check their scalps-even the skin exposed by the part in your hair.
The most common skin cancers are are squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas. when caught early and treated, they rarely cause further problems. They are not always easy to detect, but if you have any kind of abnormality on your skin that doesn't go away within two weeks to a month, you should go to the doctor to get it checked.
To determine if an unusual mole is melanoma or any kind of skin cancer, you can follow the A-B-C-D-E guideline developed by the American Academy of Dermatology:
A is for asymmetrical shape. Look for moles with irregular shapes.
B is for irregular border,meaning that the mole has indentations and cauliflower-like borders.
C is for changes in color. If the mole is more than one color or is uneven in it's shading.
D is for diameter. Look for new growth in a mole lager than about 1/4 inch-think a pencil eraser.
E is for evolving. Look for changes overtime, such as moles that grow in size or that change color or shape, or if they itch or bleed.
If you can avoid being in the sun from 10 a.m to 4 p.m when rays are strongest, you'll cut back on your risks.
By...Belinda Yeboah
No matter your skin color, you have to check your skin regularly for signs of skin cancer. The first place to check is any area on your body that is sun-exposed:Your face,neck,hands,your back and legs,don't forget your arm if you hang it out the window while driving.
Balding men should check their scalps-even the skin exposed by the part in your hair.
The most common skin cancers are are squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas. when caught early and treated, they rarely cause further problems. They are not always easy to detect, but if you have any kind of abnormality on your skin that doesn't go away within two weeks to a month, you should go to the doctor to get it checked.
To determine if an unusual mole is melanoma or any kind of skin cancer, you can follow the A-B-C-D-E guideline developed by the American Academy of Dermatology:
A is for asymmetrical shape. Look for moles with irregular shapes.
B is for irregular border,meaning that the mole has indentations and cauliflower-like borders.
C is for changes in color. If the mole is more than one color or is uneven in it's shading.
D is for diameter. Look for new growth in a mole lager than about 1/4 inch-think a pencil eraser.
E is for evolving. Look for changes overtime, such as moles that grow in size or that change color or shape, or if they itch or bleed.
If you can avoid being in the sun from 10 a.m to 4 p.m when rays are strongest, you'll cut back on your risks.
By...Belinda Yeboah
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