Oncologic Dermatology

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The Importance of Early Diagnosis

Dermoscopy, also known as surface microscopy, is a powerful tool that helps doctors detect skin cancer early. By magnifying and illuminating the skin’s surface, it reveals tiny details invisible to the naked eye. This allows suspicious features to be spotted well before surgery or biopsy, making early diagnosis of skin cancers like melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma possible.

With dermoscopy, doctors can carefully examine blood vessel patterns, pigmentation, background colors, and other subtle clues that may signal cancer. Melanoma—the deadliest type of skin cancer—often shows faint signs such as irregular pigment networks, unusual dots or globules, and blue-white veils, long before it becomes advanced.

Melanoma rates are rising worldwide, especially among fair-skinned people who get frequent, unprotected sun exposure. Each year, new melanoma cases per 100,000 people range from 10–25 in Europe, 20–30 in the U.S., and 50–60 in Australia.

If your skin burns easily—even just mild redness after sun exposure—you’re at greater risk. Having many common moles or large, unusual congenital moles also raises the chance of developing melanoma. Intense, occasional sun exposure is the most dangerous environmental risk.

To spot suspicious moles early, use the ABCDE rule:

  • Asymmetry
  • Borders that are irregular
  • Color that is uneven or mixed
  • Diameter larger than 6 mm
  • Evolution — any changes over weeks or months

Monthly self-checks with mirrors or a helping hand from a family member are key to spotting new or changing moles, even in hard-to-see areas like your back.

These signs aren’t the only warning signals. For nodular melanoma—a fast-growing and aggressive form—doctors look for EFG: Elevated, Firm, and Growing quickly.

Some melanomas lack typical dark color (called amelanotic melanoma), which makes the expertise of dermatologists and pathologists even more important.

Another helpful clue is the “ugly duckling sign”: a mole that looks very different from others on your body and could be a warning sign.

Early detection of melanoma and other skin cancers like Merkel cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma greatly improves the chances of successful treatment and recovery.

 

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