With warm weather and sunshine, it’s only natural that we’re spending more time outside. But if you spend too much time in the sun, you’re putting your body at risk for skin damage and even cancer from UV rays. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, and melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. This type of skin cancer can lead to major health concerns (even death), so it’s very important to catch the disease early.

Here’s what you need to know about melanoma

Melanoma can affect any area of your skin, but it tends to appear on your face, chest, back, and legs. In rare cases it can pop up in your digestive system or eyes. If it isn’t treated, the cancer can spread to other parts of your body like your lymph nodes or internal organs.

The symptoms of melanoma can vary from person to person, but some of the most common include:

• Scaly, dry, or rough skin spots
• Moles that ooze, bleed, or crust
• Moles that have an uneven color
• Smooth, shiny, waxy, or pale lumps
• Painful, tender, or itchy spots or sores
• Ulcers on or near a mole or discolored spots of skin

Remember your ABCDEs

While moles or beauty marks are harmless, some skin spots, such as atypical moles, can be a sign of something serious.

The ABCDE test can help you spot an atypical mole:

• Asymmetric. It may have an uneven shape.
• Border. The mole’s rim may appear notched, blurred, or ragged.
• Color. It can be uneven shades of black, tan, brown, white, or blue.
• Diameter. These moles tend to be larger than a pencil eraser (but can be smaller).
• Evolving. It may change in shape, size, color, and height. You might also notice sudden crusting, itching, or ulceration.

When in doubt, make an appointment with your dermatologist to get your mole checked out. Don’t have a dermatologist yet? If you have a Cigna medical plan through BAE Systems, visit myCigna.com, select Find a Doctor, Mental Health/Confide/EAP Professional or Service, and search for Doctor by Type.