Melanoma is a rare form of skin cancer. Even though the condition is rare, it is dangerous. It occurs mainly due to the harmful UV rays from the sun. In this article, we will look at the early warning signs of melanoma that can help in early detection.

What is melanoma?
Melanoma is a skin cancer that occurs in the melanocytes that produce melanin, the pigment that gives the skin its color. It is believed that exposure to ultraviolet rays of the sun is the reason for this cancer. Melanomas commonly occur on the face, arms, legs, and back. It is common on parts that are exposed to sunlight the most.

It is important to detect this cancer early since it causes many deaths and is a fatal form of skin cancer. Understanding the early warning signs of melanoma can help in early detection.

Early warning signs
The early signs of melanoma occur in the form of changes in moles, spots, or sores on the body. The symptoms to watch out for are:

• Any change in the size, shape, color, or appearance of a mole on the skin can be a warning sign of melanoma and must not be ignored.
• Bleeding from a mole is a serious sign and must not be ignored.
• Change in the texture of a mole can also be a sign of melanoma.
• Any new spot on the skin that appears needs to be observed and reported to a doctor.
• Changes in any spot on the body must be shown to a doctor, as the changes could be due to cancer.
• Sores that don’t heal are another warning sign.
• Itching, tenderness, or redness in a mole or spot is another warning sign of melanoma.

The ABCDE rule
One of the important rules that can help detect melanoma early is the ABCDE rule. This rule is applicable to moles, spots, and birthmarks. Regularly carrying out a self-check can help apply this rule. It will help detect any early warning signs.

The ABCDE refers to the features of the mole or spot:

1. A
This stands for asymmetric, which refers to any mole becoming asymmetric with the two halves not matching each other.

2. B
This stands for border. The border of the mole should be normal. If the border is irregular in shape or notched, then it is a warning sign and must not be ignored.

3. C
This stands for color. Any change in the color of the mole or spot must be reported to a doctor.

4. D
This stands for diameter. Any increase in the diameter of the mole or spot could be due to cancer cells. This needs to be immediately reported, especially if it exceeds six millimeters.

5. E
This stands for evolving, which refers to a mole evolving or changing its size, shape, color, or texture.

The early warning signs of melanoma listed in this article would help in detecting this form of skin cancer early through self-examination. This can help in effective treatment.