Concerned about skin changes? Understand the symptoms of skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma; plus how to perform a skin self-exam.
Do you ever feel a little twinge of worry when you spot something new on your skin? It’s pretty common especially if you live where the sun shines a lot. Spots, freckles, all that jazz – mostly harmless, right? But, skin cancer is a thing, and it’s good to know what to look for.
We’re gonna take a closer look at what symptoms of skin cancer you should keep an eye out for.
- Skin Cancer Symptoms Based on Their Types
- Less Common Skin Cancer Symptoms
- Skin Cancer Symptoms: When Should You Get It Checked?
- Skin Cancer Symptoms: How to Examine Your Body?
Skin Cancer Symptoms Based on Their Types
Skin cancer is basically when skin cells grow outta control. There are three main types of skin cancer and here’s the lowdown on each:
1- Basal cell carcinoma
This type often pops up on skin that gets a lot of sun. Here’s how it might show up:
- A pearly or waxy bump
- A flat, flesh-colored or brown scar-like lesion.
2- Squamous cell carcinoma
This one’s also common in areas that see a lot of sun, but it can show up on skin that doesn’t get much sun either.
People with fair skin are often more at risk of getting this type, even on areas not usually exposed to the sun.
Symptoms include:
- A small, red, firm nodule
- A scaly, crusty sore that might bleed or scab over.
3- Melanoma
Melanoma can show up anywhere on the body, and it’s considered one of the more serious types of skin cancer. It can affect anyone, regardless of skin tone or where you live on your body.
Symptoms to watch out for:
- A large brownish spot with darker speckles.
- A mole that changes in color, size, or feel or that bleeds. Some moles can even ooze.
- A small lesion with an irregular border and portions that appear red, pink, white, blue or blue-black.
- Dark lesions on your palms, soles, fingertips or toes, or on mucous membranes lining your mouth, nose, vagina or anus.
Less Common Skin Cancer Symptoms
Okay, so we’ve talked about the main types of skin cancer and their symptoms. Now, let’s touch on some of the less common types and how they might show up:
1- Kaposi Sarcoma
Kaposi Sarcoma, a rarer type of skin cancer, affects blood vessels in the skin, causing red or purple lesions on the skin. Often affects people with weakened immune systems.
This type of skin cancer is more likely to affect people who have a weakened immune system, like those with AIDS or those taking drugs that suppress the immune system.
2- Merkel cell carcinoma
This type of skin cancer usually shows up as firm, shiny nodules on the skin or just beneath it, often in hair follicles. Merkel cell carcinoma often appears on the head or neck.
3- Sebaceous gland carcinoma
A rare type, this skin cancer affects the sebaceous glands in the skin and often shows up on the eyelids.
Skin Cancer Symptoms: When Should You Get It Checked?
Now that we’ve talked about the different types of skin cancer and their symptoms, it’s super important to keep a close eye on your skin on a regular basis. Catching things early can make a big difference when it comes to treatment, especially with melanoma, which is one of the trickier types.
You should get checked out if you notice any new or unusual marks. It’s also smart to see a doctor who’s familiar with skin stuff. When in doubt err on the side of caution, you know?
Bottom line, getting to know your own skin is key. It helps you keep tabs on what’s normal and what’s not, which is super important for keeping healthy.
Skin Cancer Symptoms: How to Examine Your Body?
Follow these easy steps to check your skin:
- Strip down so you can see everything and make sure you’ve got decent lighting to really see your whole body.
- Use a mirror to check those hard-to-see spots, like your back.
- Check every inch of your bod, even places that don’t get a ton of sun like between your toes.
But on that note, what should you look for?
There’s a guide for checking for melanoma, it’s known as the ABCD rule, and it goes like this:
- A stands for Asymmetry: Keep an eye out for spots that aren’t the same on both sides.
- B means Border: Watch for spots with edges that are uneven.
- C means Color: This is about spots that have different colors in them, like red, blue, or brown.
- D stands for Diameter: Basically, if a spot is getting bigger, pay attention.
Also, keep an eye out for:
- New moles.
- Moles that are getting bigger.
- Moles that itch.
- Spots that are changing color.
- Areas that hurt to the touch.
- Patches that have a crusty surface.
- Spots that bleed.
- Moles that look different from the others on your body.
Looking for skin cancer and checking your body can help catch it early and can increase your chances of recovery and success.
“I was always a bit reckless with sunscreen, but after finding an odd mole, I got it checked. Early detection saved me from a lot of worry. Now, I’m the sunscreen police with my family!”
“I never thought skin cancer could happen to me until I noticed a small, changing spot. Getting it checked was the best decision. It’s a reminder to take care of my skin.”
Myth & Facts
-
Myth: You only need sunscreen on sunny days.
Fact: UV rays can penetrate clouds, so sunscreen is essential even on overcast days. -
Myth: Skin cancer only affects older people.
Fact: While it’s more common in older adults, skin cancer can affect people of all ages, including young adults and teenagers. -
Myth: Only people with fair skin get skin cancer.
Fact: People of all skin tones can develop skin cancer.
