Signs of a Potential Skin Cancer

So we know that skin cancer types such as melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma usually start as a change on your skin. It may, however, be difficult to remember if there has been a change in a lesion on your skin or if a lesion is warranted a closer check.

So look out for these six skin cancer symptoms.

And remember checking your skin for signs of skin cancer is not a one-off thing. Please take a look at this collection of skin cancer pictures by skin cancer type and go through the tips on creating your own skin checking routine.

1. The Ugly Duckling Sign – New Growths, Moles, Spots or Lesions

The most significant sign is a mark, mole or any new growth on the skin that looks different from the other spots on your skin. (An Ugly Duckling – A lesion looking a bit different from the other spots on your skin). With the uniqueness of each person comes the uniqueness of our skin and its moles and marks. But if a mole or mark stands out from the other lesions on your skin you should pay closer attention.

2. New Moles or Lesions When You’re Older Than 35

Below the age of 35 years, it is completely normal to develop new moles. After that age, it becomes less common. In adults, 71% of melanomas show up as new moles or marks on the skin.5 Be extra attentive to new mole looking lesions if you are over 35 and remember to check areas you don’t look at often, such as your back. Taking a photo of these difficult areas is recommended to discover any new lesions early.

3. Use the Melanoma ABCDE Approach

If you notice a mole on your skin and you find it worrying, it can be helpful to think about the ABCDE of suspicious moles:

(Skin cancer pictures supplied by DermNet NZ)

A – Asymmetry:

Do the two halves of the mole look different?

If you draw a straight line through the middle of your mole, creating two halves and the halves do not match, then the mole is asymmetrical. Keep in mind though that every mole is different and can’t always be perfectly symmetrical. If you do notice asymmetry, it may not be anything serious on its own, but warrants extra attention.

B – Border:

Borders that are poorly defined or irregular. Borders of the mole are uneven and edges are scalloped, rugged or notched.

C – Colour:

Do the colour vary from one area to another in the mole?

Melanomas can have shades of red, white or blue, but they are most often shades of tan and brown or black. And remember that changes in colour, even if it still only one colour, such as a darkening mole could also be a melanoma symptom.

D – Diameter:

Melanomas are typically bigger than a pencil eraser (about 6mm) when diagnosed, but they can start smaller.

E – Evolving:

If you notice a mole starting to evolve or if you discover a lesion is increasing in size or changing in colour, get it checked by a physician to see if it could be the first sign of melanoma skin cancer. You should also be on the lookout for any growing dome-shaped spots on your skin.6

If you have any historical photos of the lesion to show your physician, he or she may want to take the photos into consideration. It is important to remember that even if you discover one of the skin cancer signs above, the cause is unlikely to be melanoma. Still, if you are unsure, check in with your physician as soon as possible. If your GP is in doubt, they may refer you to a dermatologist for a further examination.

4. Any lesion That Goes Through a non-ABCD Transformation – Changing Shape, Colour or Size

Be aware of any lesion, not just moles, that increases in size or becomes raised from the skin. A typical sign to watch for is quick growth. A mole and the skin around it could also become red or start swelling.

5. A Larger Area Of Your Skin Is Darkening

If a larger patch of your skin is changing colour or darkening get it checked for early signs of skin cancer. Changes to look out for include; darkening discoloration in your face, on the underside of your feet and palms, as well as dark lines developing under your nails. Melanomas can also develop in areas of the skin that are rarely exposed to the sun.

6. Lesions That Don’t Heal

If you see any skin changes, pay extra attention to any atypical change. An important sign of some skin cancers is a sore or lesion that doesn’t heal within a few weeks including a lesion that itches or is bleeding. It may or may not look like a mole, so pay close attention as this could be a symptom of skin cancer.

A melanoma or a skin cancer may, unfortunately, look nothing like the pictures above or any other pictures found on the Internet.

Many patients are caught by surprise when the lesion they had, which turned out to be melanoma or another skin cancer, looked nothing like what they had expected.7

So if in doubt, get it checked out by a physician and get into the habit of looking out for changes in your skin as this is the most important sign of skin cancer to be aware of.

Recap – Common Signs of Skin Cancer: