The sun is shining, and after a long, hard Illinois winter, it sure feels good. But we know over exposure to the sun is not good for us. According to the CDC, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. SIU dermatologist Dr. Stephen Stone encourages people to do self skin examinations for changes in their skin and to have skin screenings by a dermatologist to detect skin cancer in its early stages.
Knowing the ABC’s of skin cancer can help. If you find any of the following characteristics, have your suspicious areas checked by a dermatologist:
‘A’ is for Asymmetry
Normal moles are symmetrical. If you draw an imaginary line through half your mole and the two halves don’t look the same, have it checked by a dermatologist.
‘B’ is for Border
Melanoma is often characterized by uneven borders. If the border or edges of your mole or freckle is ragged, blurred, or irregular, it could indicate skin cancer.
‘C’ is for Color
Normal moles are usually the same in color throughout. A mole with varying shades of color of tan, brown, black, blue, white or red may be a sign of skin cancer.
‘D’ is for Diameter
The general rule is that a suspicious mole is larger than a pencil eraser in diameter.
‘E’ is for Evolving
An evolving mole, one that shrinks, grows, itches, becomes raised, bleeds or changes color, should be looked at by a physician.
The best advice to avoid skin cancer:  limit exposure to the sun, especially during the peak hours of 10 am- 4 pm. Wear a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher and be sure to cover the often forgotten lips and ears. Hats help protect the scalp, and sunglasses keep sensitive eyes from damaging exposure.
The America Cancer Society recommends checking your skin once a month. If you have concerns, see your primary care physician or dermatologist. For more on self skin exams, visit the American Cancer Society’s website.

-rb