By Elizabeth Lebrun Nestor, MD
Melanoma is the most serious and deadly form of skin cancer. It can arise from a pre-existing mole, or it can be a new growth. Some melanomas are due to sun exposure, while others are caused by other factors, such as genetics. Therefore, melanomas can be on both sun-exposed areas, such as the back, and sun protected areas, such as the palms and soles.
Monthly self skin exams, as well as regular full body skin screenings with your dermatologist, are an extremely important part of detecting melanoma early, when it has a favorable prognosis and cure rate. When evaluating moles, we recommend using the ABCDE rule.
If you notice any moles on your body with these warning signs, please make an appointment to see us as soon as possible.
