Skin changes should be taken seriously

With the re-emergence of longer days and outdoor fun, it’s worth noting that skin care involves more than simple sunscreen.

The Skin Cancer Foundation reports that skin cancer is the most common form of all cancers, but if diagnosed and treated early, it is also the easiest to cure.

According to the Foundation, people should inspect their skin for a change of any kind:

– A skin growth that increases in size or is pearly, translucent, tan, brown, black or multicolored.

– A mole or spot that changes color, increases in size or thickness, changes texture, is irregular in outline, and is bigger than a quarter inch.

– Spots or sores that continue to itch, hurt, crust, erode, or bleed, or an open sore that doesn’t heal within three weeks.

A monthly head-to-toe self examination is an excellent preventative measure and can take less than 10 minutes.

Here are eight easy steps from the Foundation:

– Examine your face, especially your nose, lips, mouth and ears — front and back.

– Thoroughly inspect your scalp, using a blow dryer and mirror to expose each section.

– Check your hands: palms and backs, between the fingers and under the fingernails, continuing up the wrist to examine both the front and back of your forearms.

– Standing in front of a full-length mirror, start at the elbows and scan all sides of your upper arms, including underarms.

– Focus on the neck, chest, and torso.

– With back to a full-length mirror, use a hand mirror to inspect the back of your neck, shoulders, upper back and back of the upper arms.

– Still using both mirrors, scan lower back, buttocks, and backs of both legs.

– Sit down and prop a leg on a stool or chair; use hand mirror to check front and sides of both legs, thigh to shin, ankles, tops of feet, between toes and under toenails, soles of feet and heels, and yes, more personal areas.