🩺 Be Aware: If You Notice These Skin Changes, See a Dermatologist

Dermatologists use the ABCDE rule to help identify potentially cancerous moles. Check your skin regularly — especially areas exposed to the sun.


A – Asymmetry	One half doesn’t match the other
B – Border	Edges are irregular, blurred, or jagged
C – Color	Not uniform — shades of brown, black, red, white, or blue
D – Diameter	Larger than 6mm (about the size of a pencil eraser) — though some melanomas are smaller
E – Evolving	Any change in size, shape, color, or symptoms like itching, bleeding, or crusting

🟥 If a mole shows any of these signs, see a dermatologist promptly.

⚠️ Other Red Flags to Take Seriously

Beyond the ABCDEs, watch for:


🔴 Anew growththat wasn’t there before	Especially after age 30
🔴 Aspot that won’t heal	May crust, scab, or bleed and reopen
🔴Pain or tendernessin a mole	Uncommon in benign moles
🔴Shiny, pearly bumps	Could be basal cell carcinoma
🔴Rough, scaly patcheson sun-exposed skin	Possible sign of squamous cell carcinoma

📌 Don’t wait for pain — many skin cancers don’t hurt until advanced.


✅UV exposure (sun or tanning beds)	#1 preventable cause of skin cancer
✅Fair skin, light eyes, red hair	Less natural protection from UV damage
✅History of sunburns	Especially in childhood or adolescence
✅Family history of melanoma	Genetics play a role
✅Weakened immune system	Organ transplant recipients or chronic illness
✅Many moles (especially atypical ones)	Increases monitoring needs

✅ Even darker skin tones can get skin cancer — often diagnosed later due to lower awareness.


Do monthlyskin self-checks	Use mirrors or ask a partner to help check hard-to-see areas
Schedule annualdermatologist exams	Professional screening catches what you might miss
Wearbroad-spectrum SPF 30+ daily	Even on cloudy days or indoors near windows
Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours outdoors	And after swimming or sweating
Wear protective clothing	Hats, sunglasses, UPF-rated clothing
Avoid tanning beds	They emit intense UV radiation linked to melanoma

📸 Tip: Take photos of moles to track changes over time.


❌ “Only fair-skinned people get skin cancer”	False — all skin tones can develop it, though risk varies
❌ “If it doesn’t hurt, it’s fine”	Dangerous myth — early skin cancers often have no pain
❌ “I don’t need sunscreen on cloudy days”	Up to 80% of UV rays penetrate clouds
❌ “A base tan protects me”	No — tanningisskin damage

You don’t need to live in fear of every freckle or new spot.

But you do deserve to know the signs — so you can act early, not late.

So next time you’re getting ready in the morning…
pause.

Look closely.

And ask yourself:

“Has anything changed?”

Because real health isn’t about waiting until it hurts.

It’s about checking in — with kindness, care, and courage.

And that kind of attention?
It could save your life.