Using the ABCDE rule: How to check your body for skin cancer

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With the ABCDE rule, you can check yourself at home whether your birthmarks require a medical check-up. Each letter of the ABCDE rule stands for a characteristic that a skin lesion, such as a mole, can have.

This is how the ABCDE rule works

The letters stand for:

A = asymmetry

  • Does the mole have an even, round shape? It’s good.
  • Is the birthmark uneven, asymmetrical? Then you should see a dermatologist.

B = boundary

  • Are the edges sharp and smooth? It’s good.
  • Are the edges blurred, jagged, uneven, or rough? Then you should see a dermatologist.

C = Color

  • Does the mole have an even color? It’s good.
  • Does it have different colors, spots or spots? Then you should see a dermatologist.

D = diameter

  • Is the mole smaller than five millimeters at the widest point? It’s good.
  • Is it larger than five millimeters or is the shape hemispherical? Then you should see a dermatologist.

E = grandeur and development

  • Is the mole flat and not changing shape? It’s good.
  • Is it higher than a millimeter, are nodules forming or is it getting bigger? Then you should see a dermatologist.

This post also appeared at FOCUS online.

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