Skin Checks

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)
This is the most common type of skin cancer. It most often appears on skin that gets lot of sun, such as the face, scalp, neck, hands, and arms. You will find BCCs on other parts of the body, too. It can appear on parts of the body that did not get lots of sun, such as the genitals.

BCC often grows slowly. It may look like a:

• Reddish patch of dry skin that won’t heal
• Flesh-colored (or pink, red, or brown) pearl-shaped lump
• Pimple that just won’t clear
• Sore that bleeds, heals, and then returns
• Scar that feels waxy — may be skin-colored, white, or yellow
• Group of slow-growing, shiny pink or red growths — look like sores, often scaly and bleed easily
• Flat or sunken growth — feels hard, may be white or yellow

Basal cell carcinoma (right). This skin cancer appears in many shapes and sizes.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
This is a very common type of skin cancer. It often appears on skin that got lots of sun, such as an ear, face, bald scalp, neck, or arm. But it can appear elsewhere — even inside the mouth, on the lip, or on the genitals.

Too much sun is often the cause, but it is not the only cause. SCC can appear on skin that was badly burned, had lots of radiation (such as x-rays), or was exposed to strong chemicals.

SCC often has a reddish color. Without treatment, it can grow deeply. If this happens, the cancer can spread to other parts of the body. This can be deadly. SCC often looks like a:

• Hard (scaly or crusty) reddish bump, patch, or pearl-shaped growth
• Open sore that itches and bleeds; it can heal and return
• Scaly patch on the lip; skin on the lip can get thick

Squamous cell carcinoma (right). These patients all have forms of squamous cell carcinoma.

Melanoma
Know where you have moles on your skin! Melanoma often appears in an existing mole or looks like a new mole. By knowing where you have moles on your skin, you can find melanoma when it first appears. When treated early, melanoma is often curable.

Here’s what to looks for:

• A mole on the skin that is growing, changing shape, or changing color
• A mole that looks scaly, oozes, or bleeds
• New dark spot on the skin that looks like a mole, but grows quickly
• Pain, itch, or bleeding in a new spot on the skin
• Streak (usually brown or black) underneath a fingernail or toenail
• Bruise on the foot that does not heal

Melanoma (right). Like other types of skin cancer, melanoma appears in many ways.

Finding melanoma
Finding melanoma early is important. When melanoma is found early and treated, it is almost 100% curable. This is true even if you have had melanoma. If melanoma spreads, it can be deadly.

Here is what you can do to find melanoma early:

Check your skin for signs of skin cancer. To help people find melanoma early, the American Academy of Dermatology created the Body mole map (download here), which:

• Illustrates how to examine your skin.
• Shows you what to look for (ABCDEs of melanoma).
• Gives you a place to write down where your moles appear on your body.
• When examining your skin, be sure to check your scalp, feet, nails, and genital area. Melanoma can appear on parts of the body that people do not think to check.
• And check your scalp, palms, soles, fingernails, and toenails. Melanoma can appear under a nail. Beneath a nail, the most common early warning sign of melanoma is a brown to black-colored nail streak.
• Another early warning sign is a spot that looks like a bruise. The bruise may fade and then come back.

Make an appointment to see a dermatologist. If you find a mole or growth on your skin that is growing, unusual, bleeding or not like the rest, you should see a dermatologist.

Moles: Tips for managing
Dermatologists recommend the following to their patients:

• If you see a mole on your skin that is changing, itching, or bleeding, make an appointment to see a dermatologist. These are signs of melanoma, a type of skin cancer. Caught early, melanoma can be cured. Without treatment, melanoma can spread. This can be deadly.
• Perform self-exams of your skin. A self-exam can help you catch melanoma early.
• Protect your skin from the sun. It is believed that being out in the sun increases the number of moles on your skin. And we know that the sun causes skin cancer. Tanning beds and sun lamps also cause skin cancer.
• An easy way to reduce your risk of getting skin cancer is to skip getting a tan. You also should wear sunscreen every day.
• If you have 100 or more moles, be sure you have a dermatologist. If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you also should have a dermatologist:
  • Do you have pigment that covers a large part of your body?
  • Do you have familial atypical multiple-mole melanoma (FAMMM) syndrome or a similar medical condition?

People who have FAMMM should have a full-body screening every 3 to 6 months, beginning at puberty. Your dermatologist may recommend less-frequent screenings if your moles are stable (not changing).

• Join a support group. If you have a higher risk of getting melanoma, joining a support group may help you feel better. You have a higher risk if you have FAMMM, large noticeable moles, or a mole that covers most of the body.

People who have noticeable or unusual moles often have to deal with stares and whispers. Meeting with people who face similar challenges can provide emotional support.

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