Dermatologists never tire of insisting that we protect our skin from the sun and pay attention to certain skin lesions, knowing the importance of prevention and early detection when it comes to avoiding diseases such as skin cancer or melanoma. Although we must be careful in this regard throughout the year, even more so during the hot months, since exposure to the sun increases considerably.
Melanoma is the least common skin cancer, but it is also the one with the most serious prognosis. It is formed in melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing melanin and giving skin its color. It consists of a brown spot on the body that is very similar to a mole and, precisely for this reason, we have to review each mark, freckle or mole that we have on our dermis to make sure that it is benign.
For this we can use a simple rule, easy to remember thanks to the first letters of the alphabet: ABCDE. Each one refers to a characteristic of moles that we have to check. In the case of any of them being fulfilled, you should consult a dermatologist as soon as possible.
Skin cancer can appear due to different factors. For example, there is a greater predisposition in women from the age of 40 and in men from the age of 45. Having light skin and eyes, freckles, and blonde or red hair also makes you more vulnerable to those with darker skin.
But in addition to these genetic factors, solar radiation is a big culprit in skin cancers. Exposure to the sun excessively and without protection, or to artificial tanning lights, increases the chances of melanoma appearing.
