Skin cancer affects one in every three Americans making it the most popular form of cancer. Early discovery of the condition can be life-saving as timing is crucial in diagnosing and treating skin cancer. If your risks for several skin cancers are high, you ought to have regular skin cancer screenings in Fort Worth to catch the condition early and increase your chances of total recovery. You can also examine yourself to note any early signs that could indicate typical skin cancer. Here are some guidelines for you.
Inspect Your Skin
Doing a self-examination or survey is one of the best ways to check yourself for skin complications, including skin cancer. Ensure you note a specific day in your calendar to do the self-examination to ensure it becomes a routine, and you do not fail to do so. Create enough time to thoroughly look into all parts of your skin and use a mirror to see the hard-to-see areas. Ensure you make notes on any signs you might observe, like moles or other markings on your skin. The best way to ensure you examine yourself thoroughly is to understand how every type of skin cancer looks like
Look Out for Basal Cell Carcinoma
If you are endangered by the sun, you can check basal cell carcinoma, the most prevalent class of skin cancer. It mainly develops in areas of your head mostly exposed to the sun, such as the neck and ears. The condition is erosive as it eats up the tissues it affects spreading to other sites. The lesions are slightly raised or flat, bleed easily, are pink or flesh-colored, and you might notice a typical hole in them. They may look like crusts or oozes, but do not heal.
Understand Melanoma
Melanoma can be effectively cured when caught in its early stages. You can learn how to look for melanoma lesions from your skin by understanding their different characteristics. In most cases, health experts recommend an ABCDE scheme to check skin cancer. You should observe the asymmetry within the skin region, the lesion border, color, diameter and notice if the lesion evolves.
Watch Out for Squamous Cell Carcinoma
If you have actinic keratosis, a precancerous lesion, you should stay on the lookout for squamous cell carcinoma. The lesions are mainly found on the neck, head, and trunk of the body and are often rough and scaly to touch. The lesions will develop into squamous cell carcinoma over time, and you should note it if you keep on examining your skin regularly. Understand that you can be at a higher risk for squamous cell carcinoma if you are chronically injured on your skin or you are overexposed to ionizing radiations, arsenic, chemical carcinogens, and UVA.
Keep Track of Lesions
If you notice lesions on your skin during your initial skin examination, it is good you record it and describe its characteristics. Note any changes during your next self-examination and report to your doctor about advancements. You can take a picture of the lesions at different examinations and take the picture with you for examination from your doctor. Remember not to ignore even subtle changes.
You can seek skin cancer screening at Northstar Dermatology today to catch skin cancer early. Your provider will also help you understand how to examine yourself at home to watch out for several signs of different skin cancers. Remember that the earlier you catch the skin condition, the better.