Controla la salud de su piel
Goshen Health is shining a light on skin checkups during Skin Cancer Awareness Month in May.
A routine check of your skin – from head to toe – is the best way to get familiar with your body's largest organ. Self-exams help you spot changes in your skin that may be signs of something more serious than just another age spot.
"Skin cancer can happen to anyone," said Randy Christophel, Goshen Health President and Chief Executive Officer. “That’s why we encourage everyone to check their skin regularly and talk with their healthcare provider about areas of concern.”
Here are three things to look for during a self-check.
New moles or blemishes – Keep an eye on anything that’s popped up on your skin since your last check. If it doesn’t go away in a few weeks, talk with your healthcare provider or dermatologist.
Changes in color, shape, size or texture – Most spots on the skin stay the same month after month. If you see something changing, make an appointment to get it checked out.
Unusual spots – Take note if an outline of a spot looks odd or if it itches, hurts, gets crusty or bleeds. Talk with your healthcare professional about any areas that don’t heal on their own.
The ABCDE rule gives you a simple guide to recognize warning signs of skin cancer.
- Asymmetry – One half of the mole doesn’t match the other half
- Border – Border or edge of a mole is ragged, blurred or irregular
- Color – Color of a mole is not the same throughout or has shades of tan, brown, black, red, white or blue
- Diameter – Diameter of a mole is larger than 6mm, about the size of a pencil eraser
- Evolving – Size, shape or color of a mole is evolving or changing