No one really thinks about skin cancer until they are told they have it.
Since the skin is the largest organ on your body, it only seems right to protect it from harm whenever possible.
That means wearing sunscreen and minimizing exposure to the sun’s UV rays and tanning.
Even if you do not sunbathe or tan too often, it never hurts to know what’s going on with your skin.
And if you’ve ever had sunburn, your chances of developing skin cancer are much higher than most.
Take a good look at the infographic below.
Learn how to recognize signs of skin cancer by checking your moles, freckles, and birthmarks.
You don’t have to like them or display them proudly. You do however need to be able to identify when a mole is something more than a mole, like a melanoma lesion.
Although melanoma lesions appear to be similar to regular moles in appearance, they do have distinct characteristics you want to keep an eye out for.
These characteristics are known as the ABCs of skin cancer.
You don’t have to be an expert or very knowledgeable about what to look for. Just use the infographic below to check the moles, birthmarks and freckles on your body to make sure they are normal in appearance.
Of course, if you find yourself in doubt, don’t hesitate to see a doctor to rule out the possibility of skin cancer.
Asymmetry
Non-cancerous moles are symmetrical. If your mole is not, you need to have it checked by a doctor.
Border
A benign mole has even borders. Check your skin to make sure that the freckles, moles, and birthmarks you have are all outlined with even borders.
Color
The color of your mole and/or birthmark says a lot about whether or not it is cancerous.
Diameter
Moles that you do not typically need to worry about are small in size. If there is a mole and/or birthmark on your skin that is spread out/large, show it to a doctor.
Evolving
Has you mole changed? Whether it's in size, color, or even shape, that is a warning sign your body is sending you! You should have it checked by a doctor.
