Skin Cancer Pictures

Comparing Skin Irregularities with Skin Cancer Pictures

If you’ve found a suspicious irregularity on your skin and do not know what skin cancer looks like or how symptoms may present themselves, you may use skin cancer pictures as a starting point for assessing the situation, but the fact is that anything you may have on your skin that doesn’t look healthy which you cannot identify should probably be looked at by a doctor. A little background information on skin cancer will help you ask your doctor the right questions.

Once you have learned about skin cancer symptoms, it is important to perform regular skin self-examinations. While this is less commonly known than the breast self-examination, it is an important tool in the early detection of skin cancer. Skin examinations should be done with a large mirror and a hand-held mirror, and all parts of the skin should be examined, including between the toes and on the scalp.

When doing a skin self-examination, you should take mental note of any and all irregularities you find. While skin cancer can be detected within its earliest stages of development due to the fact that it develops openly on the skin, it can be difficult to distinguish from a sore, rash, or mole, and if you do not consult a doctor skin cancer can evolve into a life-threatening disease, spreading to other parts of the body and forming additional tumors. While you cannot diagnose yourself with cancer, you can see the possible symptoms that a doctor should examine.

Melanoma occurs when melanocytes, the cells located between the dermis and epidermis which pigment the skin, become cancerous. These cells are the same cells which sometimes form moles, or nevi, which are common benign growths. While a mole is nothing to worry about, if you have an unusual number of them (most people have between 10 and 40) or if you have multiple dysplastic nevi, or irregularly shaped moles, this can be a risk factor for skin cancer. You should ask your doctor if you are at risk for skin cancer and whether you should pay any special attention to any specific moles or come in for regular checkups to detect any changes. When doing skin examinations, you should watch for any new moles or changes in existing moles, such as their color, shape, size, or the condition of the surrounding skin.

Squamous and basal cell carcinoma are the two most common nonmelanoma skin cancers. Squamous and basal cells make up the epidermis. These can be harder to detect, as the tumor may not resemble a growth but rather a sore or rash which doesn’t heal or a very small lump. If you find a similar irregularity in your skin, you should ask a doctor what it might be.

Skin cancer pictures can help you determine what skin problems need immediate attention to avoid the risk of letting skin cancer continue to develop untreated, but your best option is to perform regular skin examinations and have a doctor look at anything you aren’t sure about. - By Adam Hefner

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