Routine skin check can help Chicago area residents in identifying cancerous moles

Ask any group of people if they enjoy being out in the sunshine and the majority will answer yes. Being outdoors in the warmth of the sun can feel good both physically and emotionally, however now more than ever, we’ve become acutely aware of the dangers from too much sun exposure. While getting Vitamin D is important, there must be a balance to being outside for the right length of time during non-peak sunlight hours to reduce the risk of sun damage and skin cancer. In addition to visiting our Chicago office for yearly skin cancer screenings, we encourage all of our patients to monitor their skin at home with monthly checks.

How to perform a skin self-check:

While checking your own skin for signs of cancer may seem daunting, or like too much responsibility, we can help take the guesswork out of it by recommending that you follow these simple steps:

Begin at the top of the body, checking the head, neck, and face. Spend extra time looking at the areas around the ears, lips, and nose. The scalp can be difficult, so this may need to be done by a family member or friend.Next, check the shoulders, under the arms and around the elbows.Moving down, check the forearms, wrists, hands, and even fingernails.Then, use a mirror to help check the abdomen, sides, chest, and hips.Move to the backside with your mirror, checking the back and buttocks.Examine the legs all the way down, making sure to look behind the knees, between the toes, and at the soles of the feet.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP. PLEASE CONTACT AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY AND LASER SURGERYNew patients call us at (855) 400-3818 Existing patients call us at (312) 733-2492 or Schedule an Appointment today.

What you are looking for:

During any skin check you are trying to identify changes to existing moles or development of new moles that may seem suspicious. Make sure to know the ABCDE rules of moles: Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter and Evolving.

No one wants to hear the words, “you have skin cancer.” With some basic prevention and proactive skin monitoring, you can greatly reduce the chances that you will hear those words. The good news is, when caught early, the majority of skin cancer cases have a good prognosis. For more information on identifying cancerous moles, or to schedule a yearly skin exam, call our office today.