WHY CHECK YOURSELF?

The sooner skin cancer is found, the easier it is to treat. And there’s things you can look out for (in between your regular skin check appointments) which could help you find anything odd before it becomes deadly.

To help, our friends at Skin Cancer College Australasia have created S.C.A.N. a handy guide to help you spot – a suss looking spot. If any of your moles have any of the below symptoms, make getting checked an immediate priority. Just make sure you let us know how you go!

HOW TO S.C.A.N. YOUR SKIN

SORE

A spot which is scaly, itchy, bleeding, tender and doesn’t heal within 6 weeks.

CHANGING

A spot which you’ve noticed changing in size, shape, colour or texture over time.

ABNORMAL

A spot which looks different, feels different, or stands out compared to other spots and moles.

NEW

A spot which appeared on your skin recently, especially if you’re over 40.

SPOT ANY? BOOK A CHECK!

Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer and it develops in cells called melanocytes – which control the pigment of your skin. It usually crops up on the parts of your body which have been overexposed to the sun. However, it can also occur on your eyes (ocular melanoma) or on parts of our body which rarely see the sun – like the palms of your hands, the soles of your feet, under your nails and even in your nether regions.

There’s several different ‘stages’ of melanoma, which refer to how much it has grown and if it has spread into your bloodstream and established itself in other parts of your body. To add to it’s sneakiness… Melanoma can be raised or flat, fast or slow growing and even pink or white in colour (especially if you have fair skin). Which makes getting checked such an important priority. Thankfully, the earlier you find it, the better your chances of beating it will be.

THE [ABCDE] MELANOMA DETECTION GUIDE

ASYMMETRY

One half does not match the other half.

BORDER

Uneven, raggedy boarder

COLOUR

A variety of colours in the same spot.

DIAMETER

Grown larger than 5mm.

EVOLUTION

Changes in size, shape, colour or feeling.

SPOT ANY? BOOK A CHECK!