As you don your swimsuits, sundresses, tanks, and tees in preparation for having fun in the summer sun, do yourself a favor and give your skin a good once-over to determine if you have any new spots that weren’t there last season. If you do have a suspicious-looking mole, spot, or blemish, apply this ABCD method and, if need be, see your dermatologist early.
What is the ABCD Method?
Developed by the American Cancer Society, the ABCD method was developed as a guideline to help the ordinary person identify malignancies on their skin.
• A for asymmetry. Most skin cancers are irregularly-shaped which means that one side looks different from the other. If you draw a line down the center of the spot you are inspecting, are the halves identical or are they shaped differently? If they are different, then they are asymmetrical.
• B for border. The second criterion for examining moles or freckles is to inspect their borders. Are they smooth or jagged? Is there a definite border or are the edges rather poorly defined? Most of the time, skin cancers are characterized by unstructured, inconsistent borders.
• C for color. Always consider the color of your newly discovered spot. Is your blemish multi-colored or is it uniform in color? Benign freckles and moles are usually only one color. However, more often than not, this is not the case with cancerous growths.
• D for diameter. Pay attention to how your suspicious spot grows or changes. If it is growing, it needs to be seen by a professional.
Remember that it is very important to catch skin cancers before they spread. Oftentimes, they can be removed without any further complications.
The best advice is to become familiar with your body’s usual bumps, moles, and blotches. Examine your skin regularly for new or irregular ones that may pop up. Apply the ABCD method and protect yourself against skin cancer by seeing your dermatologist annually.
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