What Are the Warning Signs of Skin Cancer? 5 Common Symptoms

5 of the most common signs of skin cancer

1. Moles

You have a good chance of detecting cancerous moles if you check them once a month using the ABCDE approach:

• Asymmetry: Shape of the mole is not uniform.
• Border: Borders are ill-defined or irregular.
• Color: Color is not uniform.
• Diameter: Melanomas are often larger than a pencil eraser (about 6 mm) in diameter.
• Evolution: Size, shape, or color of the mole is changing.

2. Red, itchy patches

Rashes aren’t always a sign of skin cancer, and sometimes are caused by poison ivy or oak, contact dermatitis, or simply sensitive skin. But if you notice elevated, reddish areas on your skin that don’t go away, it could be an indication of basal cell carcinomas. You may also notice:

• Yellow, flat patches
• Shiny bumps or multicolored patches with a combination of pink, brown, blue, or black colors
• Raised borders on pink growths
• Sores that are not healing

3. Lumps

If you see firm lumps or bumps on your skin that are pink, red, or purple, you may have Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC).

Merkel cell tumors can appear anywhere on the body. While they typically do not cause pain, they grow quickly and can turn into ulcers or sores. MCC is a more serious type of skin cancer and should be checked out immediately.

4. Lesions

Lesions that form on the face or legs and appear red, brown, or purple may indicate that you have Kaposi sarcoma (KS).

Since these lesions may not be painful and simply appear as spots, many people neglect getting them checked out. However, these lesions can spread and cause serious complications if left untreated.

5. Other unexpected changes

Any change to your skin should be evaluated and taken seriously. Changes may include:

• New growths
• Texture variations
• Discoloration
• Swelling

If you suspect that skin changes could be a warning sign of skin cancer, seek medical advice as soon as possible.