Darrick Robles Skin cancer is one of the most common types of tumours. In Germany, more than 200,000 people fall ill with it every year. The first skin changes usually do not cause any pain, so they are often misjudged. Against this background, regular self-examination is of enormous importance.
Who is particularly at risk?
Basically anyone can develop a malignant growth on the skin. People who have more than 40 birthmarks or irregularly shaped birthmarks are considered to be particularly at risk. Your risk of skin cancer is increased 15-fold. Even under hormonal influences, for example during pregnancy, a benign birthmark can develop into malignant skin cancer.
Another key risk factor is unprotected exposure to the sun, so the right sunscreen can be life-saving. You should also be particularly careful if there have already been cases of skin cancer in your close relatives.
Identify dangerous birthmarks with the ABCDE rule
Most moles are benign. However, some can develop into skin cancer. You can and should therefore examine your birthmarks yourself regularly. The ABCDE rule is a good guide for checking at home.
A for asymmetry
Is the mole irregularly shaped, i.e. not evenly round or oval?
B for limitation
Are the edges of the mole fuzzy, washed out, jagged, or jagged?
C for color
Is the mole different colors or dotted with pink, gray or black dots?
D for diameter
Is the birthmark larger than 5 millimeters at its widest point or is it hemispherical in shape?
E for grandeur
Does the birthmark protrude more than 1 millimeter from the skin and is it rough or scaly?
If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you should definitely have the birthmark in question examined by a doctor – preferably as soon as possible. However, a birthmark that looks critical in all 5 points does not necessarily have to be malignant.
How often should you examine your skin?
Skin cancer can develop over a short period of time. Therefore, you should examine your skin thoroughly once a month. Also check in skin folds, between the fingers and toes, and under the soles of the feet and under the nails. Don’t forget the (hairy) scalp and genital area. You can use a mirror to do this, or you can have your partner help you.
When do you definitely need to see a doctor?
- When a birthmark is itchy or painful.
- When you scratched a mole.
- When a birthmark is weeping, bleeding, or infected.
- When a mole grows or changes color.
- If a mole is noticeably different from your other moles.
- If you are unsure how to classify a mole.
When in doubt, it is better to have suspicious areas checked once too often than once too little. If skin cancer is detected early, there are excellent chances of recovery.
Professional skin cancer screening
Are you legally insured and over 35 years old? Then you are entitled to an early diagnosis examination by a dermatologist every 2 years. But even if you want to have a very specific part of your body checked out, the doctor’s visit is free of charge for you. For the examination, refrain from:
- Make-up
- Nail polish
- earrings and piercings
If you noticed suspicious spots when applying the ABCDE rule, you should point this out to the doctor. If necessary, he will take a tissue sample. The removal of (potentially) dangerous moles is free of charge, purely cosmetic corrections usually have to be paid for by yourself.
Skin cancer screening does not replace self-examination – it simply takes place too seldom for that. Nor should you solely rely on the self-check. Regular ABCDE tests at home and a doctor’s examination every 2 years together form the best basis for early detection of skin cancer.
Photos as a diagnostic aid
In order to be able to recognize dangerous birthmarks, it makes perfect sense to record any changes in the picture. Since today practically every mobile phone has a camera function, this can be done in a matter of seconds. Such documentation can also be extremely helpful for your doctor. Changes in shape or color can help with diagnosis.
You can also include photos in your treatment with Med-Healths. In preparation for a doctor’s appointment, you will be asked to upload pictures of your symptoms. Of course, all data is transmitted in fully encrypted form and can only be viewed by the doctor treating you. You can find out more about this in our data protection declaration .
Conclusion
Check your moles regularly according to the ABCDE rule and have your skin checked by a doctor every 2 years. If you notice something: Don’t waste time, go to the doctor!
