How to tell if a Spot is Dangerous
Blog by Samuel Bremmer, M.D.
Oregon has one of the highest rates of melanoma in the country. This is because intermittent exposure to the sun's ultraviolet radiation is particularly dangerous, and Oregon natives have a tendency to enjoy the sun between cloudy days. It is a good idea to know how to tell if a spot on the skin is dangerous.
The warning signs of melanoma can be remembered by the letters: ABCDE.
A
stands for
asymmetry
which means that one half is not a mirror image of the other half.
B
is for
border
irregularity, meaning that instead of even round borders, the borders are jagged or pigment extends from the edges.
C
is for
colors
as spots with multiple colors are more concerning than spots with one color.
D
is for
diameter
because on average, melanomas are larger than normal moles.
E
is perhaps the most important criteria and stands for
enlarging
because growing lesions are of particular concern.
If you have a spot that you are concerned about, consider making an appointment, as early detection of skin cancer is crucial. We offer full body skin checks in all of our offices, which are recommended on a regular basis.
In addition to skin cancer screenings, we offer a variety of treatments for skin cancer including Mohs Micrographic surgery in our Salem and Wilsonville offices. This technique, designed by Dr. Frederick Mohs, combines surgery with on site pathology which allows for the highest cure rate of any method to treat skin cancer and provides the best cosmetic results.
Dr. Bremmer is certified by the American Board of Dermatology and is a member of the American College of Mohs Surgery
.
