Since 2001, dermatologist Dr. Elizabeth Springer has practiced at Duneland Dermatology in Chesterton, Indiana. An advocate for skin health and safety, Dr. Elizabeth Springer assesses moles and other growths for potential signs of cancer.
While many skin growths are benign and not a cause for concern, others may be signs of developing skin cancer. Dermatologists often recommend that patients use the mnemonic “ABCD” to assess the potential danger of a growth.
“A” stands for “asymmetry,” as most potentially troublesome growths tend to be irregular in shape rather than perfectly circular. The edge of the concerning growth is also more likely to be jagged rather than smooth, and this characteristic prompts the inclusion of “B,” standing for “border.”
Similarly, because skin cancers are rarely uniform in color, doctors remind patients to check “C,” or “color.” Some extend this particular reminder to “color change,” as cancerous growths frequently change color faster than benign growths do.
“D” is a reminder to track a growth's diameter because cancerous growths can expand rapidly, and the majority of potentially dangerous moles are wider than 5 mm from edge to edge. This is approximately the diameter of a pencil eraser.
While many skin growths are benign and not a cause for concern, others may be signs of developing skin cancer. Dermatologists often recommend that patients use the mnemonic “ABCD” to assess the potential danger of a growth.
“A” stands for “asymmetry,” as most potentially troublesome growths tend to be irregular in shape rather than perfectly circular. The edge of the concerning growth is also more likely to be jagged rather than smooth, and this characteristic prompts the inclusion of “B,” standing for “border.”
Similarly, because skin cancers are rarely uniform in color, doctors remind patients to check “C,” or “color.” Some extend this particular reminder to “color change,” as cancerous growths frequently change color faster than benign growths do.
“D” is a reminder to track a growth's diameter because cancerous growths can expand rapidly, and the majority of potentially dangerous moles are wider than 5 mm from edge to edge. This is approximately the diameter of a pencil eraser.
