The sun is shining this summer, vinas, and so are the UV rays! As awesome as being tan may seem, the cost for this wayyy outweighs the benefits. UV rays can leave excessive damage on your skin and can accumulate to turn into cancer cells.
People with a lot of moles (like me, I have over 50, woohoo!) have an increased risk of developing melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer. However, no need to fear because you can help yourself and your other vinas out by looking for your ABC’s to identify bad moles:
A: ASYMMETRY
Be cautious if one half of your mole does not match the other (they should look like circles or ovals).
B: BORDERS
Bad moles have uneven or blurred edges.
C: COLOR
Having a variety of colors within the mole (black, brown, blue, red, or white) can indicate melanoma.
D: DIAMETER
Benign moles are usually smaller in width than cancerous moles.
E: EVOLVING
Any change in the previously mentioned signs can point to a mole turning bad, so its important to get that one checked out.
If your moles demonstrate any of these signs, please go to a dermatologist to get them looked at. If you are unsure, you should monitor them over time. Have one of your vinas take pictures of your moles every month to track their progress.
Stay safe this summer, Vinas! Always wear sunscreen with at least SPF 15 (I know I sound like a mom, but this is necessary) and help your other vinas out by keeping an eye on their moles too. Remember, melanoma can be malignant and pale is pretty!
You can find fellow mole-y vinas to join the #molestruggle with you by downloading our Hey! VINA app in the App Store here.
VINAZINE 