How can someone know if they have melanoma skin cancer?

Exam and biopsy.: The appearance of, or a change in character of a suspicious looking mole or skin lesion is often the first presenting sign. After physical examination, a biopsy must be performed to make the actual diagnosis of melanoma. Excision of the skin lesion and microscopic examination of the cells by a pathologist is required. If you have a concering looking lesion, get it checked and documented.

See dermatologist: Full body check, even between the toes and where the sun don't shine. Any question, the skin abnormality can be biopsied, and cells examined under the microscope.

Skin exam: Skin cancer screening is very important, particularly in high risk people who have positive family history of skin cancer, who easily burn, who have had many sun burns in their youth, who have fair complexion, who smoke, who live in sunny climates, who use sun tan salons, and who have many atypical moles. A dermatologist is an expert who can evaluate your skin and provide treatment if necessary.

ABCD's: Remember your abcd's when thinking of melanoma. Look for moles with asymmetry boarders that are irregular color differences within the same mole diameter greater than 6mm also any new mole or old that starts to itch, bleed or ulcerate should be of concern. Another rule is the ugly duckling rule. Which refers to a mole that looks distantly different from the others on your body.