Skin cancer remains the most common form of cancer in the United States. Fortunately, most skin cancers don’t escalate beyond mild symptoms and respond well to treatment.
Melanoma accounts for about 1% of all skin cancer diagnoses, but it often produces more severe symptoms and accounts for a large majority of skin cancer deaths. Melanoma occurs when melanocytes, cells that give skin a tan color, multiply rapidly to create a tumor.
Early detection of melanoma allows for prompt treatment and better outcomes {internal link}. One strategy for detecting melanoma is by following the ABCDE method.
What is the ABCDE Method for Melanoma?
The ABDCEs of melanoma, a self-screening tool, help people differentiate harmless moles or freckles from spots that could be melanoma from the comfort of their own homes. Going through the ABCDEs can help detect melanoma early to get treatment and save time and stress if a new spot ends up being a regular mole. If you have a skin lesion that worries you even after going through the ABCDEs, make an appointment with your dermatologist {internal link} for a professional assessment.
How to Self-Check Using the ABCDE Method
No guidelines for how often to do a self-exam for melanoma from accredited medical organizations, but many find peace of mind in performing them once a month and when a new spot appears. A full-body self-assessment doesn’t take more than a few minutes.
Be sure to choose a well-lit room and consider using a full-length or handheld mirror to assist you with hard-to-see areas. Scan your whole body from head to toe and look for spots with the following attributes:
Asymmetry
Note whether the skin lesion is uniform in size and shape. Freckles, moles, and other benign spots tend to look the same on both sides if you were to draw a line down the middle. Melanoma often presents as asymmetrical, where one half looks different from the other.
Border
Does the spot have even borders, or do the outer edges appear more irregular, blotchy, or blurred? Normal moles have clear definition and stand out from the surrounding skin rather than a fuzzy border like melanoma can.
Color
Melanoma spots often have uneven coloring and can include multiple colors, like black, brown, or pink. If the spot in question is only one color throughout, it is likely a standard mole or freckle. A spot with a different color from other moles and freckles on your body may also warrant a checkup with your dermatologist.
Diameter
Measuring the diameter of the spot can provide a more objective trait for self-assessment than the others on this list. Skin lesions that measure over 6 millimeters across, the size of a pencil eraser, may indicate melanoma.
Evolution
Has the spot been the same size, shape, and color over the past several weeks, or has it grown or changed recently? Lesions that grow quickly or suddenly bleed, itch, or flake may point toward melanoma.
If you have found any spots that fit some or all of the above criteria, make an appointment with your dermatologist for an exam. You can also take pictures of the spot to send to your dermatologist, and they can tell you whether it needs further evaluation.
How Can a Surgical Dermatologist Help With Melanoma?
A surgical dermatologist can use a variety of methods for treating cancerous and noncancerous spots or skin abnormalities. Surgical dermatologists may opt for topical chemotherapy, Mohs micrographic surgery, liquid nitrogen freezing (cryotherapy), and many other procedures to remove troublesome spots. Many of these procedures are outpatient treatments with short recovery times.
Discovering an abnormal skin lesion can cause stress and worry, but our surgical dermatologists are here for you. Please contact us {internal link} today if you would like to schedule an appointment or learn more about what we can do for you!
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