The Truth About Skin Spots
How to know what’s probably not worrisome and what might be
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Do you keep tabs on every spot on your skin? That’s unlikely, because you may have a variety, including moles, skin tags, dark spots, sun spots, and age spots. Still, it’s wise to have a sense of what may signal something potentially more serious. And those who have had skin cancer or are at high risk for it need to be especially watchful and pay attention to their skin spots.
“Skin cancer is much more common as we get older, thanks to having more years of sun exposure,” says Rebecca Hartman, MD, MPH, director of melanoma epidemiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
While most skin cancers aren’t deadly, the average age when melanoma (the most potentially lethal skin cancer) is diagnosed is 65, and the risk keeps rising from there, according to the American Cancer Society. These steps can help you keep an eye on your skin spots and know when to have your doctor take a look.
A Simple Skin Spot Check
Having some skin spots is normal, and you’ll probably develop more harmless ones as the years pass. Many dermatologists recommend monthly self skin checks. Use a mirror to view all areas of your body to see if anything looks different.
When to See a Doctor
If you have any doubt about what you’ve noticed, have the area examined by a dermatologist. “It can be very difficult to tell on your own if it’s something concerning or just more of the same,” Cohen says. A dermatologist, a doctor trained in skin conditions, will use a dermatoscope to magnify pigment details and other changes.
Because skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S., the Skin Cancer Foundation advises annual full-body skin checks. Other groups, such as the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, currently don’t recommend this for everyone. But if you have one or more risk factors for skin cancer (such as fair skin, blond or red hair, a history of sunburns) or a personal or family history of skin cancer, “you should get checked every six months,” Cohen says.
Some dermatologists offer virtual appointments. “That might be okay for a first look, but if you have a suspicious spot, your doctor will still need to see you in the clinic to truly diagnose it,” Hartman says. If your doctor suspects skin cancer, he or she will likely biopsy some cells to determine whether or not they’re cancerous.
Skin Cancer Prevention
Sun protection is important throughout life. “Many skin cancers are the result of cumulative sun exposure,” Cohen says. “If you spend unprotected time in the sun, the UV rays continue to cause damage to the skin and mutations to the DNA that can lead to skin cancer.” Seek shade when outside, and when you can’t, wear sun-protective clothing and a wide-brimmed hat, and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Below are some of the best sunscreens from Consumer Reports’ tests, listed in alphabetical order.
Editor’s Note: A version of this article also appeared in the August 2022 issue of Consumer Reports On Health.
