Spot the difference: Moles or melanomas?

Growing up in our sunburnt country, we’re taught from an early age of the risks associated with sun exposure; from premature ageing to vision damage, and of course, skin cancer , with approximately two in three Australians predicted to be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime¹.

How to do a mole check

According to Cancer Council Australia, 95% of skin cancers can be successfully treated if detected early . As a first point of call, you can perform your own skin check using the ‘ABCDE method ’ below. If you notice any of the following symptoms in your moles, arrange a visit with your doctor.

Asymmetry: If a line is drawn down the middle, one half of your spot doesn’t match the other

Border: The edge of your spot is spreading or ragged

Colour: Your spot is made up of a number of different colours, such as black, blue, red, white and/or grey.

Diameter: Your spot is getting bigger

Evolving: Your spot is changing and growing

Getting familiar with your own skin could save your life. The sooner skin cancer can be identified and treated, the better the chance of a positive outcome. It’s a good idea to perform your own skin checks regularly, or as recommended by your doctor. It’s also important to remember that most skin cancers can be prevented by using good sun protection and, if your skin protection habits have been a bit slack, it’s never too late to improve those habits, no matter how old you are.

Learn about other important health checks: The health checks to keep in mind at different stages in your life

Protecting your skin from the sun

Are you familiar with the SunSmart five levels of sun protection? If not, you should be! Following these five steps will help protect your skin from the harmful UV rays of the sun. If you need a quick refresher, they are:
 

• Slip on some sun-protective clothing
• Slop on some SP50 or SPF50+ sunscreen
• Slap on a hat that protects your face, head, neck and ears
• Seek shade
• Slide on sunglasses (make sure they meet Australian standards).

Every additional decade of high sun exposure is shown to further increase your risk of melanoma. So, whether you’re 15 or 50, it’s important to always wear protective clothing, apply sunscreen regularly, and seek shade when you’re out in the sun to reduce your skin cancer risk.

How often should you have a skin check?

The risk of skin cancer will be different for each person, and it increases as you get older. Your risk of skin cancer may also be higher if:
 

• You’ve had skin cancer before
• A family member has had skin cancer
• You have fair skin and hair, light coloured eyes or red hair
• You have a lot of moles on your skin
• You spend a lot of time outside without sun protection
• You were badly sunburnt in the past
• You have a weakened immune system

Foremost, if you think you may have a risk of skin cancer, speak to your doctor and have a skin cancer check. If you are considered at risk, check your skin yourself every 3 months and have a full skin check by your doctor every 6 months.

Does Medibank cover skin checks?

Some Medibank Extras include cover for skin checks under the Health Screening benefit. Medibank benefits may be payable where the service is performed by a Medicare-registered provider, there is no Medicare benefit payable for the service, and the claim meets any other Health Screening requirements.^~