Is it a harmless mole or is it already skin cancer? Lay people cannot recognize this. But with a simple rule you can examine your body yourself for noticeable spots.
Many people often put off visits for skin cancer screening for ages.
With the ABCDE-Regel You can do an initial check at home to identify problematic areas of skin.
ABCDE rule: How to recognize conspicuous stains
This is what the letters stand for:
A = Asymmetry B = Limitation C = Color D = Diameter E = Sublimity
Admittedly, the “C” is a bit cheated in with the English term.
Go from A to E to evaluate skin changes such as moles or moles.
Asymmetry: If the spots are irregular instead of round or oval, then that is a bad sign.
Limitation: Harmless pigment spots are clearly defined and smooth. Problematic areas therefore tend to appear washed out or jagged.
Colour (Farbe): This is where the assessment becomes a little more difficult. Check whether the color is consistent or varies. Look for pink or gray discoloration.
Diameter: If the skin lesion is larger than five millimeters, you should see a family doctor.
Grandeur: Feel how high the spot is above the rest of the skin surface. If it sticks out noticeably and is over a millimeter high, this is a sign of skin cancer.
It is best to carry out the ABCDE check in bright daylight. If you like, use a small magnifying glass to see the skin areas better.
Of course, you will need help for areas on your back, as it may be difficult to examine the moles using a mirror. As always, a self-diagnosis should only provide initial clues – you should always leave the final assessment to a dermatologist.
Fortunately, most health insurance companies cover the costs of skin cancer screenings from the age of 35 – even every two years.