What warning signs of possible skin cancer should be looked for in the self-skin exam?

The self-skin exam is an important part of skin cancer prevention for two reasons: Studies have shown that abnormal skin lesions are frequently discovered first by the patient, and skin cancer, when treated early, is curable. Patients should be encouraged to examine their entire skin surface on a monthly basis, remembering to include the scalp and normally non–sun-exposed sites, including the buttocks, genitalia, and feet. Warning signs of a possible skin cancer include

• An open sore that does not heal in 3 weeks
• A spot or sore that persistently itches, burns, stings, crusts, scabs, or bleeds
• Any mole or brown spot that changes in size, thickness, or texture or develops an irregular border
• A skin lesion that increases in size and appears pearly, translucent, tan, brown, black, or multicolored.