Our health is the most important thing we have, and we should always be checking in to make sure that we don't have any major issues developing.
While many people focus on their weight, hearing, and eyesight, one aspect of health that is often overlooked is their skin.
For most, skin care is just treating the occasional pimple, but it's actually a matter of life and death.
With 90,000 cases of melanoma developing each year, and 10,000 people dying from skin cancer annually, it's never too early to start checking for signs.
Here's the doctor-recommended "A-B-C-D-E" routine that will help you determine if your spots are safe, or something much worse.
Asymmetry
Most safe moles are round and perfectly symmetrical, making them easy to identify as worry-free.
However, melanoma often appears as asymmetrical or irregularly shaped moles. They also appear much darker than usual beauty spots.
Borders
Similar to asymmetry, the way that the mole is enclosed will tell you if it is a problem or not.
Normal moles have firm borders, which are sharply defined against your skin. But skin cancer presents with 'fuzzy' borders that appear to bleed pigment into the surrounding area.
Still unsure about what is on your body? Check out the next three steps!
Color
Before you start worried about how dark your mole is, just know that the specific color isn't important.
Dangerous growths are ones with multiple colors within the same border, and you should have it checked out no matter what colors you see; black, brown, red, or white.
Diameter
A lot of women are still obsessed with having a beauty spot like Marilyn Monroe, but in this case, bigger is not better.
Any mole that is larger than 1/4 inch should be inspected by a doctor as soon as possible.
Evolving
Like all cancers, the longer you wait before diagnosis, the worse your chances get. If you notice something developing, don't waste any time.
Early detection is the best chance you can give yourself, why wait?