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If you are older you may never have heard about the need for sun screen until recently. This is because in the last decade or so, the link between skin cancer and sun exposure has become more and more evident. If you are someone who spent years without wearing sunscreen, knowing how to recognize the signs of skin cancer can be the best way to keep healthy and get treatment when and if it becomes necessary.

Malignant melanomas are one of the most common forms of skin cancer. You may recognize melanoma as having to do with melanin, that part of skin which gives it color. Therefore, learning that this cancer can often start off as a mole may be less surprising. With malignant melanoma, experts urge you to check moles to make sure they have not changed into dangerous skin cancers. Early detection is critical because these cancers tend to spread quickly and can metastasize or spread to other bodily systems with alarming speed.

One of the easiest ways to remember the signs of melanoma is through the ABC’s of skin cancer. A mole needs to have an Appearance that does not change rapidly. If you have a mole that suddenly grows larger or is raised from the surface of the skin, get it checked out. If the mole is benign, it will normally have Borders which are even and regular. A mole with jagged edges is also one that needs to be evaluated by a professional. The Color of a mole should be normal as well. Moles are usually a shade of brown and any other color should at least be looked at before it is dismissed as being nothing to worry about.

Although most people do not know as much about them, basal cell carcinomas are actually more common than melanomas are. They are also much harder to identify since they can have a variety of different appearances. They may look like a scaly patch of skin. They may also look like a weeping, open sore that will not heal with time. Or, it can look like a raised sore with a sunken middle that may or may not weep and ooze. The last appearance of a basal cell carcinoma is an area of scar tissue that does not correspond with an injury. These cancers can be very disfiguring and can also spread to other areas of the body, although this is not as common as it is with melanomas.

The third type of tumor that everyone should know about is squamous cell carcinoma. Like basal cell carcinomas these do not spread as fast or as commonly as melanomas. They also can be difficult to identify because they look like a number of different skin conditions such as scars or raised lumps. Like basal cell carcinomas they also do not tend to spread as much as melanomas although they can still metastasize.

Potential skin cancers are diagnosed in the same way. Doctors often biopsy an area that looks like it might be a problem. Depending on the test results, you may be required to undergo surgery, chemotherapy or even radiation therapy depending on the kind of cancer and whether it has spread throughout your body or not.

The kind of treatment can vary between people and cancers so you can see why an accurate and early diagnosis is as important as possible. It can mean the difference between survival and death and nobody wants to think they could have saved their life if they had taken the time to get in to see their doctor. Taking the time to learn how to recognize and diagnose possible skin cancers can be the best skill you have learned yet.

How to prevent skin cancer and what should you do if you have it? Please visit the most recommended this site for free skin cancer prevention tips.