See a spot on your skin after showering. Was that already there or is it new? Often a difficult question. That is why it is good to check your skin regularly, because such a spot may be skin cancer. These are the ways to spot these ‘wrong’ spots.
Different types of skin cancer
3 types of skin cancer are most common: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Dermatologist Thomas Maselis chairs the Euromelanoma taskforce and tells the AD about the species. “Usually these are cells of the epidermis, the top layer of 1 to 3 millimeters. It renews itself every three weeks via cell division, so that you get a new epidermis. If some of those cells degenerate, skin cancer develops.”
Also read: 1 in 5 gets skin cancer, but the Dutch love the sun and apply (too) little
Basal cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. The bottom layer of the epidermis consists of basal cells. “Because the basal cells are very well attached to each other, such a cancer will rarely, if ever, metastasize,” says Maselis. According to the KWF, every year 60,000 people get such a spot for the first time and almost everyone is cured.
This form usually develops on areas of the skin that are most exposed to the sun. This type of skin cancer is most common in people ages 60 to 70. On the head and in the neck this shows as a shiny ball with blood vessels, which quickly bleeds. In other places on the body it becomes a red spot with a mother-of-pearl edge.
Dermatologist Thomas Maselis: “It doesn’t hurt – you don’t feel tumors – and it usually doesn’t itch, so it might not seem alarming. However, it is important to take this to your doctor. He will refer you to a dermatologist if necessary.”
Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma often also develops in places where there is a lot of sunlight. The cancer originates in the epidermis and sometimes spreads to the lymph nodes and other organs. With early detection and treatment, survival rates are also high. It may look like a pale pink, rough lump at first. It slowly enlarges and sometimes hurts. It can also look like a small wound that is slowly getting bigger or like a rough or keratinized spot. In 2021, 14,884 people developed this type of skin cancer.
Melanoma
The best known is perhaps the melanoma, it is also the most dangerous. Although only 8 percent of all skin cancers are this type. Melanomas spread quickly. It arises from an existing mole or as a new spot on the skin. Especially people with many moles will have to check them often, because there is a chance that a mole will become cancerous. Recognizing a melanoma can be done with the ABCDE rule.
Asymmetry: one half of the spot or birthmark has a different color or shape than the other half.
Border/edge: the spot or birthmark has an irregular, capricious edge.
Color/color: the spot or birthmark changes color or has different colors.
Diameter: the spot or birthmark is larger than 5 millimeters.
Evolving/evolution: the spot or birthmark itches, bleeds or changes.
According to dermatologist Thomas Maselis, there is another 6th rule, “the ugly duckling.” “Usually all your moles look the same. Is there one that is completely different? Then it is good to keep an extra eye on that.”
Check yourself for skin cancer
So it’s good to keep an eye on your skin from time to time. But checking too often can also make you anxious or restless. People who have never had an abnormality in their skin are not recommended by scientists to do regular self-exams of the skin. Additional reasons to check the skin are if you have spent a lot of years directly in the sun or have been under the sun bed a lot. It is also good to check yourself regularly if you have been burned often in the past, if you have fair skin or if you take medicines that reduce your immune system.
Also read: Accidentally scratched open a mole? That is not immediately cause for concern
So watch out for change
So pay particular attention to places where the skin suddenly becomes rougher or slightly discolored. Especially in places where the sun comes often, such as your head, your hands or forearms. Also watch out for spots that start to itch, bleed or open and then heal poorly or not. And check with moles to see if they start to itch or look different. If you are not familiar with something, please consult your doctor. He will assess the situation.
(Source: AD.nl, KWF, cancer.nl, Thuisarts.nl, UMC Utrecht. Photo: Shutterstock)