Skin cancer doesn’t always announce itself with a dramatic, changing mole. Board-certified physician Dr. Rhea Rogers says the warning signs people overlook are often quieter: a sore that won’t heal, a mole that bleeds easily, or a spot that’s been there for years and has subtly started to change. Those small shifts are easy to dismiss, and that’s exactly what makes them dangerous.
Rogers also warns that lesions can appear in places most of us never check, including behind the ears, between the toes, under the nails and on the scalp. One aging expert went in for a spot on her cheek and a full body scan found squamous cell cancer on top of her head. Doctors evaluate moles using the ABCDE checklist: asymmetry, border, color, diameter and evolution. Fair skin, age and family history raise your risk, and UVA and UVB light passes through glass, so sun damage adds up even on the drive down Tamiami Trail.
The good news is that skin cancer is highly treatable when caught early. Do a head-to-toe self-check once a month, ask your doctor about a full body skin exam, and find out whether your insurance covers one annually. Sunscreen isn’t just for the beach, and it’s not just for fair skin either. When was the last time you checked your scalp or the bottoms of your feet?
