Early Detection

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the world, and when caught early, it is also among the most treatable. That's not a coincidence; that's a call to action.

You know your skin better than anyone else. You see it every day. That makes you the single most important line of defense in catching the warning signs early. Trust what you see, take changes seriously, and don't hesitate to consult a dermatologist when something doesn't look right.

How To Spot Melanoma – “The ABCDEs” & “The Ugly Duckling”

- ABCDEs

A stands for Asymmetry. Melanomas grow irregularly. Most normal moles are symmetrical, meaning if you drew a line through the middle, both halves would look the same

B stands for Border. Normal moles have smooth, even borders. Melanoma often has irregular borders that are faded, jagged, or blurry as seen in this image.

C stands for Color. A mole that has different colors can raise suspicion. Varying shades of tan, brown, or black, or even grey, blue, white, or pink are warning signs.

D stands for Diameter. The general rule of thumb is that a mole greater than 6 mm is worth discussing with a health professional.

E stands for Evolving. Any mole that changes color, shape, size, or texture is concerning.

- The Ugly Duckling

An “Ugly Duckling” is any mole that stands out from others. If you have 15 moles that look like one another, with one or a few which stand out from the rest, make a note of them. We live in the iPhone era, so take a picture! Or make a note in your Body Mole Map.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

BCC is the most common skin cancer. Age, skin type, and sun exposure are all risk factors. BCC rarely spreads to other areas of the body but, left untreated, can continue to locally invade and affect nearby skin, tissue, or even bone.

What are the identifying features of a BCC?

A spot that simply won't heal or any sore or lesion that persists for weeks
A raised, pink or flesh-colored bump or patch that may appear shiny or pearly
Visible blood vessels near the surface of the lesion
Rolled or elevated borders around the edges
Most commonly found on sun-exposed areas — the face, nose, lips, around the eyes, and ears

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common skin cancer, sharing many of the same risk factors as basal cell carcinoma including fair skin, advancing age, and cumulative UV exposure. SCC typically arises in sun-exposed areas but can also develop in skin with a history of prior injury, including burns, chronic scars, and non-healing ulcers.

Unlike BCC, SCC carries a meaningfully higher risk of spreading beyond the skin to lymph nodes and distant organs, making early recognition and prompt treatment especially critical. Caught early, it is highly treatable. Left alone, the stakes rise quickly.

What does SCC look like?

A firm, red bump or rough, scaly patch that may crust or bleed
A wart-like growth that persists or continues to grow
A non-healing sore or one that heals and reopens
Raised, irregular borders with a crusted or ulcerated center
Most commonly found on the face, ears, lips, scalp, and backs of the hands — but can arise anywhere, including in old scars or chronic wounds

Make a monthly self-skin exam a part of your routine

We recommend performing monthly self-skin exams at home. It only takes a few minutes. To do this:

Stand in front of a full-length mirror and examine as much skin as possible
For extra help, use a hand mirror or a loved one
If you notice multiple suspicious spots, we recommend using Body Mole Map. Bring this form to your dermatologist for a full-body skin exam to ensure everything is normal.

Updated: 3/10/2026