How To: Detect Melanoma

It is important, as a skin care facility, to call attention to a disease that kills one American every hour. But when detected early, it can often be successfully treated.

Developed by NYU’s Langone Medical Center, a guide to detecting melanoma provides criteria for diagnosing it, as well as other skin cancer’s. The dermatologists developed this quick and simple guide known as the ABCDEs to be a self examination process of the skin to detect moles that could be cancerous.

A is for Asymmetry, where one-half of the mole is unlike the other.

B is for Border, where the mole is irregular, scalloped, or poorly defined.

C is for Color, which varies from one area to another or has different shades of tan, brown, black, and sometimes white, red, or blue.

D is for Diameter of a mole when it is bigger than the size of a pencil eraser.

E is for Evolving or changing size, shape, or color.

Skin Cancer checks are important for everyone, including African-Americans. It is recommended for African-Americans to get annual exams and to use sunscreen diligently, because when skin cancer does occur within this population, the mortality rate tends to be high because of late detection.

The month of May is Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month, but at aRejuvenation Skincare, we like to stress the importance of skin protection every month. Living in the Mile High city, the sun can be especially aggresive and unforgiving. Please protect yourselves by using an SPF of 30 or higher everyday. We especially love PCA Skin’s moisturizers with SPF in them which provide ample coverage without having to blob thick sunblock onto your face each day. They have a fully customizable line that contains a moisturizer for every skin type and occasion. See www.pcaskin.com to find a moisturizer that’s right for you, or call/stop by to talk with us about it… we love to help!