Commercials advertising mens skin care products usually say something about how tough a man’s skin is. While this is most likely true, the idea that a man’s skin isn’t as fragile or delicate as a woman’s may also lead the average male into thinking he is not as susceptible to skin cancer as women are.
The fact is that skin cancer can appear on bodies of both men and women. And, men may be especially susceptible to developing this condition on their faces, as they may not be as conscientious about applying sun block as they should be.
The signs of skin cancer on a man’s skin are the same as those for a woman. Men should be aware of moles that do display one or more of the “ABCDE” irregularities that are used to determine if a mole or other growth may actually be skin cancer.
The “A” stands for asymmetry. When checking skin for this irregularity, one should imagine a line running vertically down the middle of the growth. If one side looks different than the other, this can be one of the signs.
When checking moles for changes or suspicious signs, the border (“B”) or margin around the mole should not look uneven or otherwise different from the mole itself. Additionally, the color (“C”) is worth noting. Skin cancer sometimes appears as a reddish, bluish, or tan-colored mole. As some men have skin that tends to sport more moles than women, this can be particularly important.
How big is the mole or growth? If the diameter-“D”-is bigger than a pencil eraser, this may need to be checked out. Does the mole or growth appear to be growing? Known in skin cancer terms as “evolution” (E), this could be a sign that a dermatologist may need to be consulted.
Fri, Apr 30, 2010
Health