Finding melanoma at an early stage is crucial. Early detection can significantly increase the chances of treatment.
Look for anything new, changing, or unusual on both sun-exposed and sun-protected areas of your body. Melanomas usually appear on the legs of women, and the number one place they appear on men is the trunk of the body. Keep in mind, however, that melanomas can occur anywhere on the skin, even in sun-exposed areas.
What is a melanocyte?
Melanocytes are cells found in the upper layer of the skin. They produce a pigment known as melanin, which gives the skin its color. There are two types of melanin: eumelanin and pheomelanin. When the skin is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning salons, skin damage occurs and the melanocytes produce more melanin, but only the eumelanin pigment tries to protect the skin by causing the skin to darken or tan. Melanoma occurs when DNA damage from burning or tanning due to UV radiation causes changes (mutations) in melanocytes, resulting in uncontrolled cell growth.
About Melanin
Dark skinned people have more eumelanin while light skinned people have more pheomelanin. While eumelanin has the ability to protect the skin from sun damage, pheomelanin does not. This is why people with darker skin are at a lower risk of developing melanoma than fair-skinned people who, due to a lack of eumelanin, are more prone to sun damage, sunburn and skin cancer.
How it looks like This makes it a perfect choice for people with diabetes and for those who want to lose weight or follow a balanced diet. Melanomaa;
Melanomas come in many different shapes, sizes and colors. Since early detection of melanoma is so vital, there are common signs, symptoms, pictures and strategies for early detection of melanoma. It may appear as flat or slightly raised and discolored or asymmetrical with uneven contours. Colors include shades of brown, black, red/pink, blue or white. It may also lack pigment and appear as pink or as a skin lesion.
How dangerous is melanoma?
Melanoma is usually curable when detected and treated early. Once melanoma has spread deeper into the skin or other parts of the body, it becomes more difficult to treat and can be fatal. It is important to note that approximately 20 to 30 percent of melanomas develop on existing moles, while 70 to 80 percent arise on apparently normal skin.
What can you do;
- Check yourself regularly
Regardless of the risk, examine your skin once a month to detect potential skin cancers early. Note existing moles or lesions that grow or change.
- When in doubt, check it out
Because melanoma can be so dangerous once it's advanced, follow your gut and see your doctor if you see a spot that just doesn't look right.
- Use regularly sunscreen
Sun protection is important in both summer and winter. Use sunscreen with high sun protection index, especially on sensitive and exposed parts of your body, such as existing moles. Make sure to apply your sunscreen regularly when you are at sea.
The ABCDEs of Melanoma:
How to recognize the warning signs!
The first five letters of the alphabet (English) are a guide to help you recognize the warning signs of melanoma.
- for Asymmetry - Asymmetry.
Most melanomas are asymmetric. If you draw a line down the center, the two halves don't match. So it looks different from a round and symmetrical common olive.
- for Border - Outline.
Melanoma outline tends to be uneven and may have notches, while common moles tend to have smoother and more even borders.
- for Color - Color.
Multiple colors are a warning sign. While benign moles are usually a uniform shade of brown, a melanoma can have different shades of brown or black. As it grows, the colors red, white or blue may also appear.
- for Diameter/Dark - Diameter or Shadow.
While it is ideal for detecting a melanoma when it is small, it is a warning sign if a lesion is the size of a pencil eraser (about 6 mm) or larger. Some experts say it's also important to look for any lesion, regardless of size, that is darker than others. Rarely, amelanotic melanomas are colorless.
- for Evolving - Evolution.
Any change in the size, shape, color or raising of a spot on your skin, or any new symptom on it, such as bleeding, itching or crusting, can be a warning sign of melanoma.
Be alert for any new mole or freckle that appears on your skin, a sore or spot that doesn't heal, any existing mole that starts to change (growth, swelling, itching), or any spot or lesion that looks unusual.
If you notice these warning signs, or anything NEW, CHANGED, or UNUSUAL in your skin, see a dermatologist right away.
And don't forget: Early detection can significantly increase the chances of a cure.
