Project Birthday Suit encourages you to get a full body skin check by a dermatologist every year. What better way to celebrate your birthday than to arrange to have your birthday suit checked at the same time?!
There are three main goals in the war against melanoma. Prevention, Detection, and Elimination. Project Birthday Suit focuses on Detection. Despite all we might do to prevent skin cancer and melanoma, there are still variables which might cause melanoma to enter our lives. Even when protecting oneself by practicing sun-safe habits, it's important to know how to check your your skin for signs of melanoma. Below are ways to help.
What to Look for:
Check for the ABCDE's. If any mole should have one or more of the irregular features below, have it checked by a dermatologist!
A = Asymmetry
A normal mole should be symmetric. That means of you draw a line down the middle, each side would be a mirror reflection of the other. Asymmetry means that the two sides are different.
B = Border
A normal mole should have a nice even border. A mole with an uneven or irregular border should be examined further.
C = Color
A normal mole should have a single, even color. A mole with uneven or multiple colors could be troublesome.
Any mole greater than 6 mm or ¼ inch (about the diameter of a pencil eraser) should be noted as abnormal.
A mole that has changed in any way over time should be shown to a dermatologist right away.
More information on ABCDE
See the following links for additional information on the ABCDE of moles:
Monthly Check (Performing a monthly self-check):
It is recommended to perform a self check of your skin every month. Skin cancers found early are almost always curable, so it's important to be aware of your own birthday suit...not just on your birthday, but every month!
The following links provide good guidelines for performing a self check on your own skin. You can always spice up the check by sharing with a loved one.
Annual Check (Visiting a Dermatologist):
You should visit your dermatologist at least once a year for a full body skin check. Your doctor should check your entire body, including your mouth, your eyes, your head, your feet, your buttocks and your genitals. Melanoma can occur everywhere on your body, not just where the sun shines. Engage with your doctor....ask him/he questions and point our areas of concern you discovered during your monthly self-checks. If you're not confortable with your doctor's diagnosis, seek a second opinion.
You should visit your dermatologist at least once a year for a full body skin check. Your doctor should check your entire body, including your mouth, your eyes, your head, your feet, your buttocks and your genitals. Melanoma can occur everywhere on your body, not just where the sun shines. Engage with your doctor....ask him/he questions and point our areas of concern you discovered during your monthly self-checks. If you're not confortable with your doctor's diagnosis, seek a second opinion.
Below are links to help you find a dermatologist in your area!
- American Academy of Dermatology (Dermatologists)
- AIM at Melanoma (Melanoma Specialists)
