Hey, so, can we take a quick break from Fashion Week frivolousness to focus on something more serious? Just for a minute, promise! So clearly we know you ladies love to polish your nails, but have you ever taken the time to check them for melanoma? This Glamour reader's scary story--and a dermatologist's sobering tips/pics--will make you want to stop and do it right now.

Amy from Costa Mesa, California (above) recently wrote in with this scary tale.

"I was diagnosed with melanoma in my nail bed last April. I had no idea that it was even possible and quickly found out that most people don't know about it. I eventually had my finger tip amputated, but was lucky that I caught it early. I thought it would be a great article to discuss what warning signs to look out for and what your finger nails can tell you about your health!" For Amy's complete story (and the scary pics that go along with it), check out her blog.

Wow, Amy--we're so glad that you caught this in time and are doing well, and that you wrote in with this post idea, because you're right--I think most of us have never thought to check our nails for signs of cancer!

So how DO we check them? I asked dermatologist Dana Stern, who lectured on this topic at a recent meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Her tips: