III. How Can You Find a New Melanoma?

Interview with the Expert: Dr. Darrell Rigel discusses how to perform self skin exam. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z0V6movf68

The ABCDE rule is a good memory aid to help patients and physicians to detect melanoma. A Stands for Asymmetry B for border irregularity C for multiple colors D for diameter greater than 6mm E for evolution or change Interview With the Experts: Dr. Darrel Rigel who discussed how he and his colleagues developed the ABCDE acronym over 30 years ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7m__WRipaI The term “ugly duckling” refers to a lesion on the skin that does not share the same appearance as the moles in the nearby surrounding skin. This sign has been demonstrated to be a very effective way of identifying melanomas.

• Pay attention to lesions with symptoms of pain, itching or bleeding • Also pay attention to any lesions that have changed in shape, color, or size. • A lesion with symptoms or changes is not necessarily a malignant lesion. It simply means that you have to pay more attention to those lesions, and tell your physicians about them.