Life & Beauty Weekly

Taking a proactive role in skin cancer detection is one of the smartest things you can do. If detected early, most cancerous and precancerous lesions are treatable and can be removed at your doctor’s office. So, have a dermatologist examine your skin annually, and give yourself a head-to-toe skin check once a month.

When checking your own skin, look everywhere, including hidden areas, such as under your arms, the backs of your legs and your stomach, groin, feet and in between your fingers and toes. To scan your back and backside, ask your spouse to help, or use a mirror.

There are three types of skin cancer to watch for:

• Basal cell carcinoma, the most common, appears as a pearly, reddish bump or patch that may bleed or ooze, heal and then re-emerge.

• Squamous cell carcinoma looks like a thickened, scaly red patch with jagged borders, which can also bleed. This cancer may start as a benign pink, flaky spot that feels rough or itches.

• Melanoma, the most serious type, usually looks like an irregular mole. It may appear as a new mole or develop from one you already have, so observe existing spots carefully and watch for any that change or grow.
  
  To spot irregular characteristics, it helps to know the “ABCDs of melanoma.” A is for asymmetry. (Is the mole lopsided? Do the sides not mirror each other?) B is for border. (Does the spot have jagged or scalloped edges?) C is for color. (Does the color vary? Melanomas can include shades of pink, brown, black or purple.) D is for diameter. (Is the spot 6 millimeters across -- about the size of a pencil eraser -- or larger?) If you answer yes to any of these questions, make an appointment with a dermatologist right away.

Your Expert
Francesca Fusco, M.D., is an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.