All articles tagged with #abcdes
Dermatologist Dr. Michelle Henry stresses her own routine of monthly self-checks, scalp inspections with help from a hairstylist, and photo comparisons to spot melanoma and other skin cancers early. She watches for the ABCDE signs, ugly-duckling moles, nail streaks, and changes in new or existing spots, while advocating sunscreen use and new UVA-covering options like Bemotrizinol to improve prevention.
Ilia Smith, a Black nurse practitioner, was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, after a dark spot on her hip started bleeding and itching. Smith had enjoyed tanning in her 20s and 30s without much sunscreen or worry, and never thought about the spot until a dermatologist’s physician’s assistant warned her to watch it. Smith advises people to regularly check their skin for any suspicious spots and to become familiar with the ABCDEs of melanoma. Skin cancer can affect people of all colors, and more awareness is needed about skin cancer in Black people among both the public and doctors.