Summertime means shorts, tops, dresses, bathing suits – in other words, a lot of exposure to the sun's harmful UV rays. With more exposed skin, now is a particularly good time to check for signs of skin cancer. It is wise to regularly check for signs of skin cancer throughout the year, although in the sunny summer months we are more understandably more likely to think of skin cancer. You should check your skin from head to toe, including areas like the scalp and between your toes, so it's helpful to have someone to help you.
Here's what to look out for:
* Birthmarks that change, are asymmetrical, or have uneven edges,
* Birthmarks that are multicolored (brown, tan, and black),
* Birthmarks that have grown larger or have a diameter greater than the pencil eraser size,
* Flaky, itchy, tenderness, or pain around a mole,
* A sore that doesn't heal or heals somewhat and then returns,
* Brown or black streaks under a nail.
While older or fair-skinned individuals are most likely to develop skin cancer, people of any age and skin color can develop skin cancer. Men are more likely to develop melanoma, by far the most serious form of skin cancer, than women. People of color are prone to skin cancer in areas that are not frequently exposed to the sun, such as the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, the inside of the mouth and under the nails.
