| If you find anything on your skin that looks | | | | skin, located between the dermis and the |
| like it shouldn't be there and which you | | | | epidermis. These cells can mutate to form |
| can't identify, skin cancer pictures can help | | | | benign growths known as nevi or moles, or can |
| give you an idea of what you're looking at | | | | become melanoma, a form of cancer. Moles are |
| but they cannot replace a medical | | | | extremely common; the average person has |
| consultation. Any anomaly you find on your | | | | between 10 and 40 moles. Having an especially |
| skin that you can't identify should be seen | | | | large number of moles or having dysplastic |
| by a doctor. If you do some basic research on | | | | nevi, or irregularly shaped moles, is a risk |
| skin cancer, you'll know what questions to | | | | factor for melanoma. A doctor can help you |
| ask. | | | | determine your level of risk for melanoma and |
| | | | what you can do to detect it early. You need |
| When you have an understanding of the | | | | to watch for any changes in number or shape |
| symptoms, you need to perform regular skin | | | | of your moles, and keep a close eye on |
| self-examinations to detect any possible skin | | | | dysplastic nevi. A change in size, shape, |
| tumors early on. This is similar to a breast | | | | color, or the health of the surrounding skin |
| examination. You should check all over your | | | | may indicate melanoma and any such changes |
| skin, including on your scalp and between | | | | should be evaluated by a doctor immediately. |
| your toes, using a wall mirror and handheld | | | | |
| mirror. | | | | The surface of the skin, or epidermis, is |
| | | | made of a layer of basal cells covered by a |
| Look carefully for irregularities during your | | | | layer of squamous cells. These cells may |
| skin self-examination and keep an eye on any | | | | become cancerous, forming squamous or basal |
| you find. Early detection of skin cancer is | | | | cell carcinoma, the two most common types of |
| possible because the first symptoms appear on | | | | nonmelanoma skin cancer. A nonmelanoma tumor |
| the skin, but a skin tumor may look like a | | | | may have a less striking appearance, looking |
| rash, mole, or sore. If you fail to have skin | | | | like a small lump, rash, or sore which |
| cancer treated early, it can metastasize, | | | | doesn't heal. Any skin problem which doesn't |
| spreading to other parts of the body and | | | | heal should be evaluated by a doctor. |
| creating additional tumors, possibly | | | | |
| threatening your life. Any possible symptoms | | | | The best way to catch skin cancer early is to |
| should be evaluated by a doctor as soon as | | | | regularly examine your skin and ask a doctor |
| possible; you cannot diagnose skin cancer | | | | about anything you can't identify, but skin |
| yourself. | | | | cancer pictures can be used to help you |
| | | | determine which skin irregularities require |
| Melanocytes are the cells which pigment the | | | | immediate medical attention. |