Skin cancer is a form of cancer that manifests as melanoma or carcinoma. When it spreads it can be fatal, which is why it needs to be detected and treated early. If detected early, the 5-year survival rate is 99%. This article lists out the early warning signs of skin cancer that can help people identify the condition in the early stages.

Signs of melanoma
One of the early warning signs of skin cancer classified as melanoma is by using the ABCDE method. Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. It can be detected through the following signs related to moles on the skin:

• Asymmetry of the two parts of a mole on the skin
• Border of the moles having uneven or edges with notches on them
• Color of moles being different from normal moles and maybe red, blue, or white, or a different shade of brown
• Diameter of the mole being larger than other moles, usually more than 6 mm
• Evolving mole where the shape, color, or texture keeps changing fast and may even bleed.

One more sign to identify melanoma is the ugly duckling method. In this method, when one compares all the moles on the skin, if one looks different then it could be melanoma. When in doubt, always consult a doctor so that melanoma can be diagnosed and treated early.

There are other warning signs like:

• A sore that does not heal
• Itchy or tender feeling of the mole
• Redness on the mole or surrounding area
• Change in the surface of the mole like growth of a lump
• Pigment spreading from a spot on the skin to a surrounding area.

Signs of non-melanoma skin cancer
Non-melanoma skin cancers include basal and squamous cell carcinomas. While they are not as deadly as melanoma, it is better to get them checked out and treated to prevent complications. Some of the early signs to help detect basal cell carcinomas are:

• It looks like a scar with the skin looking pale
• A patch of skin may be itchy and raised
• Bumps on the skin can have blue, black, or brown areas with the bumps themselves being red or pinkish
• Open sores that are difficult to heal
• Pink color skin growths with raised edges with the center being lower with blood vessels spreading out like a wheel’s spokes.

The early signs of squamous cell carcinoma are:

• A red patch that bleeds or starts flaking
• A growth on the skin with the center being lower compared to the edges
• Sores that ooze and do not heal easily
• A wart-like growth on the skin.

In general, when any abnormal looking mark is observed on the skin or there is redness, itching, or bleeding from a mole it could be an early indication of basal or squamous cell carcinoma.

The article on early warning signs of skin cancer would have helped you understand how to detect melanoma at an early stage. This can help in starting treatment early, which prevents fatalities.