It is important for every person, whether they have a family or personal history with the development of skin cancer, to understand and recognize the five signs of skin cancer. Skin cancer is a form of cancer that develops visibly on the skin; knowing the ABCDE’s of skin cancer, as they are most commonly referred to, may just save your life or the life of someone that you love.

A – Asymmetry

The first sign to look for is asymmetry; common moles, the kind that are not likely to be cancerous, are generally round and symmetrical. This means that if a line is drawn through the center of the mole, there will be two equal halves on either side of the line. The majority of melanoma skin cancers, in their early stages, are asymmetrical; this means that there will be two different shapes on either side of the line drawn through the middle. Carefully examine moles and other areas of concern on your body for their asymmetry in order to rule out skin cancer.

B – Borders

The second sign to look for is borders; common moles will have distinguished and mostly smooth borders to them. The majority of melanomas, in their early stage, will have rough edges and uneven borders to them. Carefully examine the borders of your moles – if they appear to be smooth and rounded then you likely have nothing to worry about. If your moles have irregular borders then you should consider discussing your concerns about skin cancer with a medical professional.

C – Color

The third sign of skin cancer to look for is the color of the moles and markings. The common varieties of moles are, in general, one shade – a single and light shade of brown. As one of the first signs of melanoma, the areas will vary in color. From light shades of brown to darker browns and even black, a color change on a mole on your body should be an immediate cause for concern. As the melanoma progresses, the colors may change from browns and blacks to reds and even varying shades of blue.

D – Diameter

The fourth sign of the five signs of skin cancer is the diameter of the mole. As a general rule of thumb, common moles will not grow and change much in appearance and diameter; melanoma’s, however, have a tendency to grow larger and at a much faster rate than other skin anomalies. Melanoma skin cancers that are diagnosed while still relatively small, less than 7mm in diameter, are not only easier to treat and remove, but there is also a much lower risk of recurrence.

E – Evolving

The fifth, and final of the five signs of skin cancer, is evolving. A common mole may change slightly in size over the span of many years; however, it is unlikely that you will see any noticeable difference in a common mole. A melanoma skin cancer lesion, however, will change and evolve in a manner that will prove to be very noticeable.

Knowing the five signs of skin cancer can prove to be an incredibly valuable tool when it comes to recognizing and identifying melanoma skin cancers; it might just prove to be a lifesaving tool.