What are the ABCDEs of melanoma?

This five-letter checklist is a way of looking at a mole or spot on your skin. Each letter names one thing to check, and checking yourself costs nothing.

A is for asymmetry

The American Academy of Dermatology describes the first letter, asymmetry, this way: One half of the spot is unlike the other half.

To try it, look at a spot in a mirror and picture a line down the middle. If the two sides do not match, note it and keep reading.

Where to read about B through E

The remaining letters are laid out on the American Academy of Dermatology's page on the ABCDEs of melanoma. The same group also explains melanoma signs and symptoms on a separate page.

The Skin Cancer Foundation shows melanoma warning signs and images, which helps if you learn better from pictures. The National Cancer Institute has a fact sheet on common moles, dysplastic nevi and the risk of melanoma for readers who want background on moles.

A cheap monthly habit

You need no special tools for a self-check. A mirror, good light and a phone camera are enough. Take a photo of any spot you wonder about and take another a few weeks later, so you are comparing pictures instead of relying on memory.

When a spot should go to a dermatologist

Book a visit with a dermatologist if a spot fails the checklist, if it changes between your photos, or if it simply bothers you. Residents of Madera, Madera Acres, Fairmead and the rest of the county do not need to wait for a bigger worry before asking.

Do darker skin tones need checking too?

Readers often ask next whether people with darker skin tones need to check too. The page on skin cancer in darker skin covers that.