Being careful and cautious with our skin is something that was ingrained in us from childhood. We’re constantly being warned about the dangers of the sun and how to protect it from sunburns, sun damage, and even aging. Bottom line, wearing sunscreen is important. The biggest reason is because it protects us from skin cancer.
You might think skin cancer is the one cancer that is the easiest to spot, because it can be seen from the outside of our body, which is not always the case! Thankfully, we’re able to do routine checks of our skin, which means we’ve got a better chance of catching it early. Experts recommend doing a thorough check of your skin every three months.
So, what are we looking for when it comes to cancerous moles? Not sure? What are the main signs to look for when it comes to spotting and detecting cancerous moles? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a detailed list of the most common warning signs…
Asymmetry
The golden rule for checking cancerous moles is to follow the “ABCDE” technique. The first letter “A” stands for asymmetry. Healthy moles are usually symmetrical, which means they are equally sized (or both sides would match if folded in half). If you find a mole that’s uneven and one half of it doesn’t look like the other, you may want to get it looked at by your doctor or a dermatologist (a specialist in the study of skin).
Cosmopolitan recommends placing a mirror in the middle of the mole to see if both sides look the same. It’s important to note that all moles will be slightly irregular, and none of them will be exactly perfect in shape. Use your best judgement. Keep checking it, and if it’s clearly asymmetrical, seek out a medical opinion.