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The Ugly Mole - How to spot a melanoma? |
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Edmonton's Cosmetic Surgery Clinic
What can I do to prevent melanoma ? Protect young children from excessive sun. Avoid the sun from 10 am to 4 pm and protect yourself if outside during these times by seeking shade, covering up with clothing and wide brimmed hats. Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15. Apply before you leave the house and reapply regularly, especially during strenuous exercise. Sun is good for us but excessive sun - particularly when it leads to sunburns is very dangerous.
What do I look for when I examine my moles? Self-examination of the entire body surface is very important. The moles that we have are ours and we need to know them. We also need to know if and when they change or a new mole develops. We should examine ourselves once a month and here are some of the factors that are important to assess when looking at moles:
A - Asymmetry - one half unlike the other half. Look at the mole and see if it is symmetrical. It is important to notice lack of symmetry as this can be an early sign of melanoma.
|  | | B - Border - irregular, scalloped or poorly circumscribed border. Although mother nature does not make perfect circles, we do not want to see very irregular mole edges either. When that happens, please see your doctor or, better yet, your dermatologist. |  | | C - Colour - varied from one area to another; shades of tan and brown, black; sometimes white, red or blue. Colour variation and colour changes can be an early clue that melanoma is developing. |  | D - Diameter - while melanomas are usually greater than 6mm in diameter (the size of a pencil eraser) when diagnosed, they can be smaller. If you notice a mole different from others, or the mole that changes, itches, or bleeds (even if it is small) you should see a dermatologist .
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I see more and more melanomas every year but I am glad that most of them are caught early. Early detection and treatment can save lives and knowledge of how to protect yourself and detect melanoma early can save your life as well. When in doubt, see your doctor or a dermatologist, your skin care expert.
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