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But youcanchoose to love the skin you’re in.
Getty Images. Design by Bella Geraci
Here’s the thing:If you have skin, you are at risk for skin cancer.
Now, here’s how to keep your skin in check.
(See what we did there?)
What’s the point of routine skin checks?
A healthy you starts withyou.
Like a mirror, your skin is the reflection of what’s happening within.
At the same time, there are eyes trained for detection (thank you, dermatologists!)
and technologies available to catch concerning and cancerous lesions.
How often should you get a skin check?
For those with a first-degree connection to skin cancer, it should be even more frequent.
This goes for all skin tones, as skin cancer does not discriminate.
Got moles?
You’re even more at risk.
“The more moles you have, the higher risk you have,” she says.
All warnings aside, skin checks are essential foreveryone.
Schedule your annual skin check with a dermatologist.
Your physician has the tools and training to do a thorough examination.
And these tools are far more accurate than the naked eye.
“Something that looks like it’s a sunspot can be a melanoma,” Henry says.
But don’t be nervous.
So be prepared to strip down completely.
Though it’s a full-body check, the process is super simple.
Even advanced screenings have become less invasive with a new technology, calledDermTech.
Much like a piece of Scotch tape, you stick it on a lesion and scuff it up.
“So it’s a noninvasive way to evaluate moles.”
Think of it as a partnership with all the experts in your life.
It’s about overall wellness.
Look for new, dark, or concerning marks on your skin.
However, not all skin cancer comes from a preexisting mole.
Sun exposure or sunburns can actually make a mole turn, says Hale.
Size matters, but it’s not the end all, be all.
Sun-exposed or unexposed skin matter equally.
For hard-to-see spots, like your back, ask a loved one for help, or use technology.
And keep hotspots in mind.
Says Farhang, ask yourself, “Is there a mole that’s weirdly itchy?
Is it kind of pink?”
This is true from head to toe, including your scalp.
These can all be questions of concern.
And keep in mind the ugly duckling rule too.
Other clues to look for, according tothe Skin Cancer Foundation:
Learn the ABCDEs of melanoma.
These five letters translate to five simple steps to follow as you are doing a skin check at home.
A is for asymmetry.
“Moles should be roughly oval or circular,” says Henry.
B is for border.Jagged, scalloped edges are concerning.
C is for color.Different colors within a mole are considered a sign of skin cancer.
D is for diameter.Anything larger than a pencil eraser should be looked at by a dermatologist.
E is for evolving.Arguably, this may be the most important letter of them all.
Change is an indicator of something turning from a regular mole to an atypical mole or melanoma.
Bleeding, scaly patches, and itchiness are all significant warning signs.
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