Although it is not talked about as often, skin cancer is more common than all other types of cancer combined. But, unlike many of them, it can be prevented in almost all cases, and 90% of them are curable if detected early.
In terms of managing skin cancer, prevention is paramount: if caught early, it is eminently treatable. It is important to review your own moles and visit a dermatologist for a full body check-up who will then determine the type of control needed based on your skin type and personal and family medical history.
La Roche-Posay recommends the ABCDE method developed by dermatologists to help people check moles at home for themselves and loved ones.
Learn it here. Too easy!
Check your moles with the ABCDE method
A suspicious mole has the following characteristics:
- A- Asymmetry: when a mole is benign, if you draw a line down the middle, the two sides match up; that is, it is symmetric. But, when you draw a line in the middle, if the two sides don’t match up, then it’s asymmetrical and becomes a danger sign for melanoma.
- B- Edges: a benign mole has smooth, regular borders, unlike melanomas. The borders of an early melanoma tend to be irregular. The edges may be stepped or notched.
- C – Colour: almost all benign moles are the same color, usually a single shade of brown. Having multiple colors is another warning sign. Various shades of brown, ochre, or black may appear. A melanoma can also be red, white, or blue.
- D- Diameter: Benign moles are usually smaller in diameter than malignant ones. Melanomas are usually larger than a pencil eraser (6mm), but can sometimes be smaller if caught early.
- E- Evolution: Benign moles usually look the same all the time. Be alert when a mole evolves or changes. When a mole evolves, visit the doctor. Any change, in size, shape, elevation or any other characteristic, or new symptoms such as bleeding, itching or scabbing, are cause for alert.
Caring for the skin, caring for the environment
La Roche-Posay is a committed brand, as it has a mission to improve people’s lives; and for this reason, caring for the environment is one of its objectives.
In addition to developing products that offer maximum sun protection efficacy, they also take into account the environmental impact at each stage of development, and analyze the possible effects of each ingredient included in their formulas. For this, they work with a laboratory specialized in ecotoxicology, to ensure that the environmental impact of the Mexoryl SX and XL filters does not have a bleaching effect on the coral or its symbiotic microalgae.
So La Roche-Posay creates smart ingredient formulas that marry clinically proven efficacy with the lowest possible environmental impact, delivering a skin feel that ensures the whole family will want to apply and reapply sunscreen. Because it is a way of taking care of yourself and protecting all the treasures that nature offers us!