FAQs
General Information
Frequently Asked Questions
When checking your skin remember two things 1) SCAN and 2) ABCDE
The SCAN checking method: Look out for any spots which are sore, changing, abnormal and/or new.
Melanoma’s ABCDEs: Detect abnormal spots by asking the right questions. Is it Asymmetrical? Does it have a soft or hard Border? What Colour is it? How big is its Diameter and how Dark is it? Is it Evolving? Read here to learn about what the answers tell us about your spot.
If you have family members with skin cancer, we suggest checking your skin more frequently and consider going for regular professional check-ups.
Skin cancer is a threat to everyone. Those with dark skin have a lower chance of developing skin cancer due to additional melanin in the skin, which helps filter out UV light, but this does not mean they are immune.
The lowered risk of skin cancer in people of colour means there can be a lack of skin cancer awareness in those groups or a perceived immunity to skin cancer.
This is why it’s important that everyone, of all races (and all ages), check their skin regularly for signs of skin cancer.
Skin cancer is dramatically more common with people who have fair skin. Those who are fair and freckled (with red hair) are especially at risk, as they carry the variant MC1R which increases the risk of skin cancer.