Skin cancer is actually the most prevalent of all cancers, as more cases of skin cancer have been diagnosed than any other. The consensus opinion is that the detection of early signs of skin cancer will dramatically increase the chances of defeating it, since treatment can be applied faster and more effectively. Because early detection is critical, it is very important to learn what the early signs of skin cancer are. Therefore, you will know exactly what to look for, you will be able to check your skin periodically to see if any of these signs are present.

Should you recognize early signs of skin cancer, you will then be able to take action immediately before it gets out of hand.

Five Primary Characteristics

When learning the early signs of skin cancer, you need to focus primarily on five characteristics. Each one can be easily remembered by assigning the first five letters of the alphabet to each one. The first early sign of skin cancer characteristic that corresponds with the letter A is asymmetry, which refers to the malignant growth being shaped irregularly, meaning it will appear disproportionate.

The next characteristic that stands for the letter B is border, which means that the cancerous growth will most often not have a distinct border to it because of its irregularity. The letter C stands for color, which is the next early sign of skin cancer. This means that the cancer growths will have varying colors, which can include shades of brown, black, red, white, and even blue.

The letter D represents the word diameter, which references the cancerous tumor’s diameter. If these tumors are typically larger than 1/4 inch, then it should be recognized as one of the early signs of skin cancer. Elevation is the final characteristic, and refers to the skin surface being elevated or uneven,

Additional Signs

While the importance of knowing these early signs of skin cancer goes without saying, they are not the only ones you should know about. Sores could be an additional sign, as well as pimples that bleed or have fluids coming out of them. Moreover, these pimples and sores may not get better and become scabs. At anytime, these can open up and begin draining once again. As you can tell, these signs are obvious and would clearly indicate that something is wrong.

However, not every early sign of skin cancer will be so obvious. As a matter of fact, in some cases there are no symptoms or signs that are visible. However, checking the face, ears, neck, body, and the back of your hands is always a good idea to see if there is anything abnormal.