Do you Know The Symptoms of Melanoma?
Home Care in Scotch Plains NJ: Do you Know The Symptoms of Melanoma?
Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer there is. It occurs in melanin cells, which are the cells that give your skin their color. It is often linked to moles, which, when they aren’t melanomas, are something that nearly everyone has.
Melanoma is especially common in the elderly, and it is important that you and your home care aide keep an eye out for any changes in your loved one’s moles or skin. Melanoma is thought to be caused by prolonged exposure to UV rays from the sun or tanning bed, so if you know that your loved spends or has spent a lot of their time outdoors, you should be aware of the possibility that this might be a problem.
If you think that your loved one may be at risk for melanoma (or even if you don’t), you or their home care aide should check their skin often, and look for these symptoms:
- New mole or growth – Melanoma can appear on an existing mole, or it can grow on its own. It often appears as a new dark spot on your skin that looks unusual, and you can’t account for.
- Changes in an existing mole – Moles are usually small and either round or ovular. They are usually smaller than the eraser on a pencil, and usually black, brown, or tan, depending on your skin color and pigmentation. Any change in a mole can be suspicious. Here are some of the common changes that are often a sign of melanoma:
- Change in color
- Change in shape
- Asymmetry (one half or one side of the mole looks different than the other)
- Irregular border (often notched or blurred; anything other than the normal border)
- Growth of mole that has been the same size for years
- Itchiness
- Bleeding
- Evolution (changing in any other way)
- Vison problems – Melanomas don’t just appear on the skin – they can appear in the eyes as well. This can lead to vision problems, which should be checked by a doctor as soon as possible.
- Spots or itchiness under nails – Melanomas can also occur under the fingernails. This is most common in African Americans, and often goes unnoticed because no one thinks to check there for melanoma.
If you suspect that your loved one might have melanoma, see a dermatologist or a physician as soon as possible. The earlier the melanoma is detected, the better chance they have of getting treatment and making a full recovery.
Melanoma can be prevented, though, by just remembering to take a few simple steps: Apply sunscreen before going outside, regardless of what time of year it is, avoid the intense afternoon sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and wear a wide-brimmed hat and long pants to prevent UV rays from reaching the skin. The most important preventative step of all, though, is learning what is normal on your loved one’s skin and what is not. You or your home care aide should be so familiar with their skin patters and moles that you will be able to notice if one has changed. Check their skin often to look for anything out of the ordinary, and seek help if you find anything.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional home care in Scotch Plains, NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.
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