Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention
Posted on: May 13, 2015Categories: HR & Compliance
Did you know that it only takes 15 minutes for the sun to damage your skin but 12 hours for that damage to become visible? Many individuals suffer from hours of skin damage before even realizing that their skin is in danger.
The month of May is recognized as Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month. As Summer approaches, it is even more important to be aware of how much you are exposing your skin to the sun’s UV rays.
Since skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, you should keep these prevention tips in mind:
- Try to stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Wear clothes with tightly woven fabric and a hat that shades your face, neck and ears.
- Wear sunscreen every day that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.
- Routinely inspect your skin, and, if you suspect that a spot on your skin is new or has changed color or appearance, contact a dermatologist.
Do you know your ABCDE’s? This is a way of dectecting abnormal moles on your skin’s surface. If you notice one or more of these signs of melanoma, make an appointment with your physician immediately.
A- Asymmetry: A benign mole is symmetrical, however if a mole is asymmetrical it is a warning sign for melanoma.
B- Border: Benign moles have smooth, even borders typically whereas melanoma moles tend to have irregular and uneven borders. The edges may be scalloped of notched.
C- Color: Most benign moles are a single shade of brown. Having a variety of colors is a warning sign for melanoma.
D-Diameter: Benign moles usually have a smaller diameter than malignant. Typically size is compared to the eraser on a pencil- if it is bigger than this diameter it may be a melanoma. However, they may be smaller sometimes when first detected.
E-Evolving: Commonly, benign moles took the same overtime. Be on alert when a mole starts evolving and changing over time in any way. If this is occuring in any form (color, size, shape, new symptoms), see a doctor.
Source: SkinCancer.org
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