An expert listed some of the key symptoms of skin cancer, which is one of the most common forms of the disease in the UK
A doctor has urged people to speak to their GP if they spot three signs on their skin. These abnormalities could be a symptom of skin cancer, one of the most common forms of the disease in the UK.
Luckily, if spotted early enough, it should be treatable. With this in mind, an expert explained what to look out for.
Responding to another content creator’s video about the warning signs of skin cancer, Doctor Sermed Mezher shared his advice on social media platform TikTok. He said: “There are some signs you need to look out for that if these are happening, then definitely go get checked. Yes skin cancer is the most common but it’s also one of the most treatable.
“We catch it early usually, it’s pretty easy to access.” He pointed to an image of different types of moles that can indicate cancer.
Some key things to therefore look out for in moles are:
- If it is pigmented – if it has more than two colours
- If it has an irregular shape and blended borders
- If it’s non-healing and has been there for three weeks
He listed other potential red flags as a mole that keeps getting bigger, if it’s got “pearly” edges, and if it’s bleeding or scabbing. In a caption under the video he provided more detail. Dr Mezher said: “Skin cancer can develop in ways that are easy to miss if you don’t know what to look for, which is why recognising the warning signs is so important.
“Changes in the skin that should raise concern include new growths that don’t go away, spots or moles that change in size, shape, or colour, and sores that don’t heal. Other red flags include irregular borders on a mole, multiple colours within the same lesion, or an area that becomes itchy, tender, or bleeds without clear reason.”
He recommended sticking to the “ABCDE” rule to know what to look for. “While not every skin change is cancer, getting suspicious areas checked early can make a huge difference – skin cancer is far more treatable when caught in its early stages,” he said.
“The “ABCDE” rule can help you remember what to watch for: asymmetry, border irregularity, colour variation and evolving over time. Being proactive and getting prompt medical advice means you can address any potential problems before they have the chance to spread.”
NHS advice states you should see a GP if:
- You have a mole that’s changed size, shape or colour
- You have a mole that’s painful or itchy
- You have a mole that’s inflamed, bleeding or crusty
- You have a new or unusual mark on your skin that has not gone away after a few weeks
- You have a dark area under a nail that has not been caused by an injury
There are around 17,500 new melanoma skin cancer cases in the UK every year making it the fifth most common type of cancer.