| Detecting skin cancer in its earliest stages not | | | | moles or changes in existing moles when you do |
| only significantly increases the patient’s | | | | your skin examination. |
| chance of making a full recovery, it can also save | | | | New dysplastic nevi should be seen by a doctor. |
| the patient from having to go through aggressive | | | | If an existing mole changes in size, shape, or |
| treatments which can have severe side effects. | | | | color, or if irritation or any color change occurs in |
| The key to early detection is in finding skin | | | | the bordering skin, you should consult a doctor. |
| irregularities and recognizing them as possible skin | | | | Moles are usually benign growths and most people |
| tumors, and promptly having them examined by a | | | | have between 10 and 40 of them. They are |
| doctor. Some background information along with | | | | formed of the same melanocyte cells which can |
| skin cancer photos can help you recognize what | | | | turn into skin cancer, so moles do need to be |
| symptoms to look for. | | | | watched carefully for any changes. |
| Skin cancer is much more likely to be detected | | | | Nonmelanoma skin cancer generally affects the |
| within its earliest stages of development if the | | | | basal or squamous cells which make up the |
| patient has taken an active part in the process. | | | | epidermis. These types of skin cancer can be less |
| You need to perform regular skin | | | | striking in appearance than melanoma, and are |
| self-examinations, searching every part of your | | | | less severe, but early detection is still extremely |
| body for any irregularities with a basic idea of | | | | important. While nonmelanoma skin cancer is most |
| what you need to be looking for. If you find any | | | | common on the face and other parts of the body |
| suspicious growths, you can visit a doctor for | | | | which are exposed to sunlight, the entire body |
| professional evaluation. | | | | should be checked for symptoms. |
| The symptoms you need to look for vary in | | | | Symptoms may appear as small lumps, which |
| cases of melanoma or nonmelanoma skin cancer. | | | | may be red or flesh-toned, or as sores or rashes |
| You need to be especially attentive to the | | | | which do not heal on their own. Any sores or |
| possibility of developing melanoma if you have | | | | rashes found during a skin examination should be |
| certain risk factors, such as a higher than average | | | | watched carefully to see if they’re healing, |
| number of nevi, or moles, or a high number of | | | | and if they aren’t, this means a doctor should |
| dysplastic nevi. | | | | be consulted. |
| Dysplastic nevi are moles with an unusual | | | | Skin cancer photos can be a useful aid in helping |
| appearance. They may be asymmetrical or | | | | you determine what skin irregularities warrant a |
| particularly large. If you have any of these risk | | | | visit to a doctor, but should not be used as an |
| factors, you may want to ask a doctor for help | | | | exclusive guide for self-diagnosis. Do regular |
| in watching for an increase in the number of | | | | self-examinations, use the information provided in |
| moles you have or any changes in their condition. | | | | addition to photos, and see a doctor for any |
| After an initial evaluation, you may want to check | | | | irregularity that you can’t identify, because |
| regularly with a doctor. Even if you don’t | | | | even if it isn’t skin cancer, it may require |
| have an unusually high number of moles or | | | | medical attention. |
| dysplastic nevi, you should still watch for new | | | | |