Melanoma
Learn how the ABCDE rule can help you notice suspicious moles and skin changes and when it may be time to seek medical advice.
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Learn how the ABCDE rule can help you notice suspicious moles and skin changes and when it may be time to seek medical advice.
Malignant melanoma is the most dangerous of all skin cancers. It is also becoming increasingly common. What is truly shocking is the fact that malignant melanoma is one of the most common tumors in people between the ages of 20 and 29. The average age of onset for women is 59, which is below the average age for men, which is 67.
Important: Melanomas can occur anywhere on the skin. In men, they are very often found on the torso, while in women they are more common on the arms and legs. Melanomas can develop from scratch or from an existing mole or liver spot. Congenital moles also carry a certain risk of degenerating into malignant melanoma.
Check your skin in bright light, use mirrors or ask for help and work from head to toe.
One half of the mole or spot is unlike the other half. If you draw a line through it, the two sides don’t match.
The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred. Healthy moles usually have smooth, even borders.
The color is not the same all over and may include different shades of brown, black, or even patches of pink, red, white, or blue.
The spot is larger than 6 millimeters across, although melanomas can be smaller when first detected.
The mole is changing in size, shape, color, elevation or it shows new symptoms such as bleeding, itching or crusting.
Regular self-examination offers a great opportunity to detect cancer at such an early stage that it can be cured before it spreads and becomes life-threatening, especially in the case of malignant skin diseases that develop visibly on the outside.
Possible warning signs of melanoma include a new or changing mole, a spot that looks different from your other moles, irregular borders, multiple colors, changes in size or elevation and symptoms such as itching, pain, bleeding, crusting, inflammation or a lesion that does not heal.
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The short answer is: if you notice a skin lesion or mole that fits one of the ABCDE guidelines or the Ugly Duckling rule, which basically means that a pigmented spot stands out from the rest or if you see a new mole or skin lesion, you should schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider.
Identifying new or changing moles/lesions is key to early detection. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. If left untreated, it can spread and become deadly. That’s why it’s important to know when it’s time to see a doctor.
SkinScreener provides an AI-based risk assessment of selected moles and skin lesions using a smartphone camera. After scanning a suitable skin spot, the app analyses its visual characteristics and presents the result as a low, medium or high risk level. Depending on the assessment, you may be advised to consult a healthcare professional.
