Facial Skin Cancer Signs

Skin cancer can occur anywhere on your body but it's more likely to show up in areas that are exposed to the sun frequently. The face is especially susceptible. There are numerous treatments available for facial skin cancer, but the earlier it's diagnosed, the better prognosis you have. Keep track of any new growths, lesions or abnormal bumps on your face as well as the signs outlined below to identify pre-cancerous lesions before they turn into cancer and to receive treatment before the cancer spreads to other parts of the body.

Large Moles

• One potential indicator of skin cancer is the presence of large moles. While many large moles are not cancerous, they are often removed anyway because they can turn into cancer at a later time. So what constitutes a "large" mole? Anything that's larger than a pencil eraser is considered large and should be examined.

Irregular Moles

• Normal moles are symmetrical, meaning if you were to split it in half, it would look the same on either side. Abnormal moles that may be cancerous often have an irregular shape and are asymmetrical. Much of the time, your doctor will opt to remove these irregular moles as a preventative measure, because though they may not be cancerous now, they might turn into cancer later.

Abnormally Colored Moles

• Moles that are different colors are also a sign of skin cancer. For instance, most normal moles are one color and one color only. However, abnormal moles are speckled and feature black, blue, red or brown spots. Oftentimes, a mole will start out a solid color then change over time. Any mole that changes colors should be examined by your doctor.

Oozing Skin

• Skin that continually weeps or oozes pus should be checked out by a dermatologist. Lesions that do not heal or moles that produce a fluid are often a sign of cancer and need to be treated immediately.

Bleeding Skin

• Any part of the face that bleeds without being scraped or cut can be a sign of facial skin cancer. Rough patches of the skin, open sores or moles that bleed are especially suspect and should be promptly examined by a physician.