COLORADO SPRINGS — May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and medical professionals are sounding the alarm about melanoma, one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer. The silver lining? When caught early, it’s highly treatable.
News5’s Piper Vaughn joined the morning broadcast live Monday with an important message for viewers: check your skin, know the warning signs, and protect yourself as summer approaches.
The ABCDE guide is a simple self-check method endorsed by dermatologists:
- A – Asymmetry: One half of a mole doesn’t match the other.
- B – Border: Watch for irregular, ragged, or blurred edges.
- C – Color: Multiple shades — including brown, black, red, white, or blue — can be a warning sign.
- D – Diameter: Moles larger than 6mm (about the size of a pencil eraser) should be examined, though melanomas can be smaller.
- E – Evolving: Any changes in size, shape, color, or new symptoms like bleeding or itching warrant a closer look.
But detection isn’t the only defense.
Key sun safety tips include:
- Wearing broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen daily, even when it’s cloudy.
- Reapplying sunscreen every two hours while outdoors.
- Wearing wide-brimmed hats, UV-blocking sunglasses, and light-colored clothing.
- Avoiding sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when UV rays are strongest.
- Steering clear of tanning beds, especially for those under 35.
Dr. Brayden Healey of Vanguard Skin Specialists emphasized Colorado’s unique risks.
“We have a lot of sunny days — 300 days of sunshine in Colorado is why we all live here, right?” said Healey. “We enjoy the outdoors both recreationally and occupationally. So we have a population and a place that are both prime for developing skin cancers.”
While everyone should consider a skin screening, those with fair skin, light eyes, or a family history of melanoma should be especially vigilant.
Dermatology physician assistants and doctors are trained to spot suspicious lesions and offer guidance. Vaughn wrapped the segment with a reminder: early detection saves lives.
Watch the full story above.
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