The ABCDs of Melanoma Detection
How often do you check for new or odd shaped moles?
When was the last time you had a complete skin examination by a Utah skin care professional?
Are moles something that worry you?
The “ABCDs of Melanoma Detection”
Do not use the following pictures to try to diagnose melanoma yourself. Pictures are useful examples, but they cannot take the place of a Utah skin doctor’s examination.
A for Asymmetry:
Does one half of a mole look different from the other?
B for Border:
Is the edge (border) of the mole ragged, notched, or blurred?
C for Color:
Does the mole have a variety of hues or colors within the same lesion? (The color is uneven. Shades of black, brown, and tan may be present. Areas of white, grey, red, pink, or blue also may be seen.)
D for Diameter:
There is a change in size, usually an increase. Melanomas are usually larger than the eraser of a pencil (1/4 inch or 5 millimeters).
Melanomas can vary greatly in how they look. Many show all of the ABCD features. However, some may show changes or abnormalities in only one or two of the ABCD features.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends that people perform a skin self-exam once a month.
The best time to examine your skin is immediately after a shower or bath. Check your skin in a well-lighted room using a full-length mirror and a hand-held mirror. It’s best to begin by learning where your birthmarks, moles, and blemishes are and what they usually look and feel like. Have someone you trust help by examining hard-to-see areas.
Check for anything new:
- A sore that does not heal
- A new mole (that looks abnormal)
