Signs and Symptoms

Skin cancer can be very difficult to identify because it can appear in many different forms. Some examples include: small, shiny, waxy, scaly and rough, firm and red, crusty or bleeding, or have other features [3]. Listed below are some key items to look for.

The easiest way to identify skin cancer is to follow the acronym ABCD.

Asymmetry: If one half of the abnormal skin area is different than the other half [2].
Borders: It has irregular borders [2].
Color: It varies from one area to another with shades of tan, brown, or black (multicolor) [2].
Diameter: It usually larger than 6mm in size or larger than a pencil eraser [2].



(http://www.plasmetic.com/images/melanoma-skin-cancer.jpg)


Other things to look out for include:
- A skin growth that changes in size, thickness, or texture
- A spot or sore that continues to itch, hurt, crust, scab, erode, or bleed
- An open sore that does not heal within three weeks

If you notice one of these warning signs or if anything looks suspicious, it should be looked at by a physician immediately.