You probably look at your arms and hands numerous times throughout the day, but there are plenty of areas of our body that are difficult to see or even impossible without the assistance of a mirror. Skin cancers can be difficult to identify if you don’t know what you’re looking for, but they can be even tougher to catch if they are located in a spot on your body you don’t check regularly. Today, we take a look at five oft-overlooked spots for skin cancer development.
Your Scalp
Your scalp is one of the most overlooked spots in terms of checking for skin cancer. While it’s true that your hair helps prevent the penetration of harmful ultraviolet rays, but it also makes it harder to see the development of any odd looking moles. Even if you have a thick head of hair, run your fingers through your scalp once a month to check for any weird shaped moles.
Under Your Feet
The underside of your feet is another place that most people don’t regularly check because the bottoms of your feet don’t usually get much sun. While it’s true that the underside of your feet doesn’t get a lot of sun, there are two types of melanomas that develop that aren’t usually related to sun exposure – acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) and mucosal melanoma. ALM is often found on the soles of your feet or on the palms of your hands.
Your Nail Beds
Acral lentiginous melanomas can also develop under your nail beds, making them hard to see. If you notice any spots under your nail beds that aren’t the result of trauma, as this could just be bleeding, have them looked at by a skin cancer specialist. Always check your nail beds when trimming your nails.
Your Lips
According to SkinCancer.org, “the lips are a not uncommon, but often overlooked site for nonmelanoma skin cancers, including the two most common skin cancers, basal and squamous cell carcinoma.” Cancers of the lip account for nearly one percent of all cancers, and males are at a heightened risk for their elevated propensity to receive occupation-related sun exposure and greater tobacco use. Grab some chapstick with SPF when you’re heading out for a day in the sun.
Your Ears
Although cancer of the ear is relatively rare, about five out of 100 skin cancers develop on the ear, so they shouldn’t be overlooked. Be sure to check the tops, sides and backside of your ears in a mirror once a month. Cancers of the inner ear are much more rare, but your primary care doctor can take a look during your yearly physical.
For more information on spotting skin cancers on your body, click here, and contact us if you have any further questions!
