Most skin cancers are highly treatable when found early. Knowing what to look for, and getting changes checked, matters more than memorizing statistics.
7 min4 lessons
1
The three main types
There are rarer types too, which is one reason a professional examination matters more than a checklist.
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer. It grows slowly and rarely spreads. It can look like a pearly or waxy bump, a pink or skin-colored patch, or a sore that bleeds, crusts, and doesn't heal.
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common. It can look like a rough, scaly, or crusty patch, a wart-like growth, or an open sore. It can spread if left untreated.
Melanoma is much less common but the most dangerous, because it can spread to other organs. It often starts as a new spot or a change in an existing mole.
2
The ABCDE guide
ABCDE is a memory aid for changes in moles that are worth showing a doctor. It is a prompt to seek advice, not a test you can pass or fail at home.
A is for Asymmetry: one half doesn't match the other.
B is for Border: edges that are irregular, ragged, or blurred.
C is for Color: more than one shade, or colors that change.
D is for Diameter: larger than about 6 mm (roughly a pencil eraser). Some melanomas are smaller.
E is for Evolving: any change in size, shape, color, or new symptoms like itching or bleeding.
Not every melanoma follows this pattern. Nodular melanoma, for example, can be symmetrical and a single color. A new, changing, bleeding, or non-healing spot deserves a professional look even if it doesn't match the letters.
3
Anyone can get skin cancer
Risk comes from UV exposure over time, sunburns (especially in childhood and adolescence), indoor tanning, many or unusual moles, fair skin that burns easily, family history, and some medical treatments that suppress the immune system.
People of every skin tone get skin cancer. In darker skin it is often diagnosed later, and it can appear in places that see little sun: palms, soles, under fingernails and toenails, and inside the mouth. Acral lentiginous melanoma is one example.
Skin cancer can also appear on skin that is rarely exposed. Sun protection lowers risk; it doesn't make anyone risk-free.
4
What to actually do
Finding skin cancer early usually means simpler treatment and better outcomes. That's the whole point of paying attention.
Once a month, check your skin in a mirror, including your back, scalp, ears, hands, feet, and nails. A hand mirror or someone helping makes the back easier.
Notice anything new, changing, or not healing. Itching, bleeding, or tenderness in a spot also counts.
Show it to a qualified healthcare professional, such as a board-certified dermatologist. A photo on your phone can help you track change over time.
Don't try to diagnose yourself with an app or a quiz, including this one.
Key takeaways
BCC, SCC, and melanoma are the three main types; melanoma is the most dangerous.
ABCDE helps spot suspicious change, but not every skin cancer fits it.
All skin tones and all body areas can be affected.
New, changing, or non-healing spots belong with a healthcare professional.
Glowify is educational only. It can't diagnose a skin condition. Anything new, changing, or not healing should be checked by a qualified healthcare professional.