Skin cancer prevention is an extremely important thing to be aware of, especially during beautiful, hot summers at the cottage or your patio. The occasional beauty mark forming here or there shouldn’t be worrisome, but it’s the larger moles that you really need to pay attention to.
To look out for red flags on moles that would be worth mentioning to your doctor, you just have to follow the ABCDE’s!
A – Asymmetry; if you draw a line through the mole, one half of it doesn’t match the other
B – Border; the edges of the mole are jagged, blurry, or uneven
C – Colour; mixed shades of brown, black, and tan
D – Diameter; shouldn’t be larger than a pencil eraser, but melanomas can be smaller
E – Evolution; if the mole changes in shape, colour, size, or begins to bleed or scab, this can be dangerous
One strong recommendation I have is to make a body journal and keep it in a spot that’s easily accessible. Document changes in your body when something appears off and mention it to your doctor. Have a section dedicated to your skin, and if you do have any moles, even snap some photos and print off to add to this section, and monitor it once or twice a year. Having your spouse or a friend to help is great, especially for spots on your back that’s difficult to see with a mirror!
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