As you check your skin for changes, you may be wondering what you should be looking for! Here are some signs and "watch-outs" from the American Cancer Society:
The most common non-melanoma skin cancers are basal cell cancers and squamous cell cancers. They are most often found in areas that get a lot of sun, such as the head, neck and arms. Look for new growths, spots, bumps, patches or sores that don’t heal after 2 to 3 months.
Basal cell carcinomas are often flat, firm or pale, or can be small, raised, pink or red, translucent, shiny or waxy areas that may bleed following minor injury. They may have one or more irregular blood vessels, a lower area in the center and/or blue, brown or black areas. Large basal cell carcinomas may have oozing or crusted areas.
Squamous cell carcinomas look like growing lumps, often with a rough, scaly or crusted surface. They can also be flat reddish patches in the skin that grow slowly.
Both of these types of non-melanoma skin cancer may begin as a flat area showing only slight changes from normal skin.
Actinic keratosis, also known as solar keratosis, is a precancerous skin condition caused by too much sun. They are small (usually less than ¼ inch) rough spots that may be pink-red or flesh-colored. Usually, they develop on the face, ears, back of the hands and arms of middle-aged or older people with fair skin, although they can develop in younger people or on other sun-exposed areas of the skin. People with one actinic keratosis usually develop many more. Some can grow into squamous cell cancers, but others may stay the same or even shrink. Because they can turn cancerous, such areas should be regularly looked at by a doctor. The doctor can then decide whether these areas should be removed.
When looking for melanomas, the “ABCD rule” is an easy guide to the usual signs of melanoma. Tell your doctor right away about any spots that match the following description:
- A is for ASYMMETRY: One half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other.
- B is for BORDER: The edges are irregular, ragged, notched or blurred.
- C is for COLOR: The color is not the same all over and may include shades of brown or black, sometimes with patches of red, white or blue.
- D is for DIAMETER: The spot is larger than 6 millimeters across (about ¼ inch — the size of a pencil eraser) or is growing larger.
Other important signs of melanoma include any change in size, shape, or color of a mole or the appearance of a new spot. Some melanomas do not fit the ABCD rule described above, so it is very important for you to notice changes in skin markings or new spots on your skin.
Other warning signs are:
- a sore that does not heal
- any new growth
- spread of pigment from the border of a spot to surrounding skin
- redness or a new swelling beyond the border
- change in sensation – itchiness, tenderness, or pain
- change in the surface of a mole – scaliness, oozing, bleeding or the appearance of a bump or nodule
