WASHINGTON: As Melanoma Awareness Month, May marks a good time to keep a close eye on your skin for melanoma, all while slathering on the sunscreen.
The World Health Organization cites a rise in deadly melanoma throughout the Western world, especially in countries where skin is typically fair or where tanning is the norm, such as in Northern Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, and especially among white females.
But the good news is that in addition to seeing your health professional, you can keep an eye on your skin year-round with these ABCDEs for self-screening, from the American Academy of Dermatology.
Start with a mirror and a flashlight, or a loved one to help you. If you see any of the irregularities listed below in moles or spots on your skin, consult a dermatologist.
Asymmetry (one half unlike the other half)
Border (irregular, scalloped or poorly defined)
Color (varies from one area to another; shades of tan and brown, black; sometimes white, red or blue)
Diameter (the size of a pencil eraser or larger)
Evolving (changing in size, shape or color)
Additionally, a number of clinics conduct free screenings especially during the warmer months to promote skin cancer detection and prevention awareness.
In addition, protect yourself by avoiding sun exposure during midday hours, from 10 AM to 4 PM. Since UV radiation exposure is cumulative, protect your skin by wearing sunscreen with a high SPF every day, even on cloudy days, and avoid tanning, direct sun, and tanning salons.
You can also keep tabs on your skin with a free iPhone app called UMSkinCheck, which helps you to create a full-body “photographic baseline” of your skin, snap photos of suspicious moles or lesions, and monitor any changes in your skin over time. Another similar app is Skin of Mine for iOS, which lets you analyze and share photos of moles as well as get a consultation from a dermatologist.
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