| If you find anything on your skin that looks like it | | | | known as nevi or moles, or can become |
| shouldn’t be there and which you can’t | | | | melanoma, a form of cancer. Moles are extremely |
| identify, skin cancer pictures can help give you an | | | | common; the average person has between 10 |
| idea of what you’re looking at but they | | | | and 40 moles. Having an especially large number |
| cannot replace a medical consultation. Any | | | | of moles or having dysplastic nevi, or irregularly |
| anomaly you find on your skin that you can’t | | | | shaped moles, is a risk factor for melanoma. A |
| identify should be seen by a doctor. If you do | | | | doctor can help you determine your level of risk |
| some basic research on skin cancer, you’ll | | | | for melanoma and what you can do to detect it |
| know what questions to ask. | | | | early. You need to watch for any changes in |
| When you have an understanding of the | | | | number or shape of your moles, and keep a close |
| symptoms, you need to perform regular skin | | | | eye on dysplastic nevi. A change in size, shape, |
| self-examinations to detect any possible skin | | | | color, or the health of the surrounding skin may |
| tumors early on. This is similar to a breast | | | | indicate melanoma and any such changes should |
| examination. You should check all over your skin, | | | | be evaluated by a doctor immediately. |
| including on your scalp and between your toes, | | | | The surface of the skin, or epidermis, is made of |
| using a wall mirror and handheld mirror. | | | | a layer of basal cells covered by a layer of |
| Look carefully for irregularities during your skin | | | | squamous cells. These cells may become |
| self-examination and keep an eye on any you | | | | cancerous, forming squamous or basal cell |
| find. Early detection of skin cancer is possible | | | | carcinoma, the two most common types of |
| because the first symptoms appear on the skin, | | | | nonmelanoma skin cancer. A nonmelanoma tumor |
| but a skin tumor may look like a rash, mole, or | | | | may have a less striking appearance, looking like a |
| sore. If you fail to have skin cancer treated early, | | | | small lump, rash, or sore which doesn’t heal. |
| it can metastasize, spreading to other parts of | | | | Any skin problem which doesn’t heal should |
| the body and creating additional tumors, possibly | | | | be evaluated by a doctor. |
| threatening your life. Any possible symptoms | | | | The best way to catch skin cancer early is to |
| should be evaluated by a doctor as soon as | | | | regularly examine your skin and ask a doctor |
| possible; you cannot diagnose skin cancer yourself. | | | | about anything you can’t identify, but skin |
| Melanocytes are the cells which pigment the skin, | | | | cancer pictures can be used to help you |
| located between the dermis and the epidermis. | | | | determine which skin irregularities require |
| These cells can mutate to form benign growths | | | | immediate medical attention. |