Melanoma: Detecting Suspicious Moles Early
The ABCDE rule helps anyone screen their skin.
Dr. Sophie Renard
Dermatologist
- A: Asymmetry
- B: Border irregular
- C: Color uneven or multiple shades
- D: Diameter > 6 mm
- E: Evolution over time
Risk factors
Fair skin, many moles, atypical moles, family history, history of sunburns or tanning bed use, and immunosuppression.
Skin self-examination
Monthly skin checks, plus annual professional examination for high-risk patients, find melanomas at curable stages.
Treatment
Surgical excision cures most early melanomas. Targeted therapies (BRAF inhibitors) and immunotherapy (PD-1 inhibitors) have transformed outcomes in advanced disease.
Any new mole appearing after 40, or any mole that becomes the 'ugly duckling' among others, deserves dermatological review.
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