Too Much Sun? Here’s Why You Should Get a Mole Check

We all love the sun. Not only does it give us a healthy glow, but exposure allows our bodies to create vital vitamin D and for various chemical reactions within the brain to occur, giving us that wonderful “feel good” factor.

However, allowing the sun to bathe our skin can have risks—most notably that of skin cancer. While this is a scary subject, there are steps we can easily take to protect ourselves when in the sun and also by having professional mole checks.

Keeping Safe in the Sun: Daily protection and annual mole checks  

• Sunscreen
• Mole check

Sunscreen

Using sunscreen should be a staple element of everyone’s bathroom regime. At the very least, use a high SPF on your face—even in wintertime. Many moisturizers contain this, making it simple to keep the sensitive skin in this area well protected.

Don’t forget other exposed areas, such as hands, arms, legs, feet, etc., which should also be treated with high SPF (30+) when out in the sun. In general, skin cancers take years to evolve. This makes it vital to use a high SPF sunscreen on children, as poor protection at this age will increase their risk of cancerous moles later in life.

Mole check 

Carrying out regular mole checks on yourself is simple—it should be done every time you shower or bathe. If possible, get someone to look at your back for you once a month or so, as this is more difficult to adequately visualize. 

A wholly proactive attitude to a mole check is to get a dermatologist’s opinion once every year or so. That way, the doctor can note any that might need watching, plus it gives you peace of mind that you’ve not missed anything.

New or Changed Moles 

• Cancer check

Cancer check

Skin cancer, or to give it the medical name, melanoma, has many warning signs that mean it can usually be picked up early and successfully treated. The earliest signs are changes in a mole’s appearance. It’s easy to remember what you should be looking for by using an ABCDE approach.

1. Asymmetry: Cancerous moles are often uneven in shape, meaning they’ll be different from one side to the other.
2. Border: A healthy mole has a smooth, well-defined border. If you notice that a mole has developed an irregular or under-defined border, then this would need to be assessed by a professional.
3. Color: Moles that are more than one color, or have changed color, should be regarded as suspicious. Healthy moles are normally uniform in color—melanoma might have 2 or more shades, such as brown, black, and or red.
4. Diameter: A melanoma is usually larger in size than a normal mole—over 6mm in diameter (that’s about the size of a pencil).
5. Evolution: Cancerous moles tend to change. So if you notice one that’s altered in size, shape, or color that’s a red flag that should be checked out.

Using this approach when checking your moles means you can spot any that might be worrisome and book a professional mole check asap.

Worried About Sun Exposure? Visit Bayou City Dermatology for a Mole Check Now

Most moles are not cancerous. Indeed, many change shape and color naturally throughout your life. However, if you’ve had any sun exposure throughout your life (and, let’s be honest, that’s all of us), any changes in a mole’s appearance should be checked out straight away. 

At Bayou City Dermatology, our expert skin cancer dermatologists will quickly determine if a mole needs further investigation. We’ll also carry out a whole-body mole check—something that’s very important to ensure we assess hard-to-see areas, such as the back.

Visit https://www.bayoucitydermatology.com/clinical/skin-cancer to find out more and get in touch today to book a consultation.

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