Anyone can get skin cancer but your risk increases with age and with the years spent unprotected from the damaging UVB rays of the sun. A good habit to fall into is regularly examining your skin for the signs of skin cancer.

Watch for changes in the skin. Not every spot or change means skin cancer but examine your skin regularly for new spots or changes and have any suspicious skin area checked out by a doctor. Although you cannot always detect skin cancers, you can be aware and report changes in skin to your healthcare provider.

The most serious form of skin cancer is melanoma. Know the A D C D’s of spotting melanoma:

* A: Asymmetry — one half is unlike the other half.

* B: Border irregular — scalloped or poorly circumscribed border.

* C: Color varied from one area to another; shades of tan and brown; black; sometimes white, red or blue.

* D: Diameter larger than the diameter of a pencil eraser.

If you see any of the warning signs of melanoma, consult your doctor immediately.

For more information on skin cancers and how to do a self-exam, go to:

this site.

For illustrations of the ABCD’s of melanoma, go to:

this site.