May 1, 2023 is "Melanoma Monday," a day set aside by the American Academy of Dermatology to raise awareness of the symptoms, causes, and prevention of the deadliest type of skin cancer.
Allina Health dermatologist Dr. Julie Schultz told WCCO's Susie Jones that it's all about the A, B, C, D, and E of common pigmented skin lesions
"A is looking for asymmetry in moles; B is border irregularity, C is color, D is diameter, and E is evolving," said Dr. Schultz. "If a mole is changing, that worries us."
What it comes down to, Dr. Schultz said, is identifying moles that don't look like any other mark on your body.
She pointed out that if you are no longer going to tanning beds, or sitting in the sun after slathering baby oil on your arms, legs, and torso, melanoma could still catch up with you.
"Sun damage you had many years ago can trigger skin cancer many years later," she said.
Taking preventative measures, such as using sunscreen or wearing protective clothing, can prevent new skin cancers from forming, Dr. Schultz said.
Statistics show that melanoma is developed by 1 out of every 50 Americans at some point in their lifetime.
According to the Melanoma Monday website, many genetic factors, like fair skin, family history, and eye color, all can indicate increased risk for melanoma, beyond simple sun exposure.