Know Your Skin

KNOW YOUR SKIN WHAT'S THAT ON MY SKIN? CHARACTERISTICS LOCATION COLOR Random Flat Circular spots More numerous on Reddish, yellow, tan, light brown, FRECKLES Tanned places frequently exposed to sun brown or black Size: common nail head Usually a darker shade than the surrounding skin Random Flat Circular spots AGE SPOTS Tanned (OR LIVER SPOTS) More numerous on Ranges from light tan to black places frequently exposed to sun Often darker in the summer and Size: pencil eraser lighter in the winter Flat or elevated Circular spots Tanned Anywhere MOLES (OR NEVI) Singular or in groups Most often pink or brown Size: common nail head Often darker in the summer and lighter in the winter Flat or elevated MELANIMA Irregular shape (not round) Anywhere Pink, red, brown, blue, purple. black Tanned or untanned skin One or more color, irregular WHAT IS A NEVUS? There are many types of nevi. They can appear through adulthood, but new nevi are rare after age 60 THEY NEVUS GROW One type of Nevi (latin for birthmark) is present at birth. AS THE BODY Clusters of nevomelanocytes (pigment-producing cells) produce large nevi. Melanin (pigment) is distributed evenly on normal skin GROWS NEVI ARE CONSIDERED LARGE IF: "TTTTTTI The largest point is over 8 (on an adult) Removal would require more than one surgery More the 2% can appear as a mole or larger birthmark of the body is covered WHAT IS A MELANOMA? The most dangerous SKIN CANCER Melanomas can resemble moles or develop from moles CANCEROUS GROWTHS OCCUR ON UNREPAIRED SKIN MELANOMA IS OF TEN CURABLE often damaged due to ultraviolet radiation damage triggers mutations lead to mutations malignant tumors (sunshine or tanning beds) IF CAUGHT EARLY A mole that looks different from others should be checked by a doctor THE WARNING SIGNS: KNOW YOUR ABCDE's A B C D E asymmetry border color diameter evolving If you draw a line through a melanoma, the two halves will not match. uneven. The edges may Melanomas are usually larger in diameter than brown, tan or black could the size of the eraser on another trait, or any new your pencil (1/4 inch). Any change - in size, shape, color, elevation, or The borders of an early Warning sign: a number of different shades of melanoma tend to be symptom such as bleeding. itching or crusting - points to danger. be scalloped or notched. appear. A melanoma may also become red, blue or some other color. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER: Is it new? I Has it changed?I Is it inflamed or bleeding? I Does it look different from other moles? Do monthly skin checks with a body map and bring it with you to your dermatologist for your annual skin check. Do vou have a suspicious mole? If vou are concerned, see a dermatologist Presented by Sources: DEVELOPED BY Myriad Genetics, Inc http://www.nevus.org/what-is-a-large-cmn_id554.html N NOWSOURCING http://www.medicinenet.com/freckles/article.htm#what_are_freckles http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/melanoma#panel1-5 http://my.clevelandclinic.org/healthy_living/skin_care/hic_moles_freckles.-skin_tags_lentigines_and_seborrheic._keratoses.aspx MYRIAD.