India's Rising Skin Cancer Threat: Moles Matter

India is facing a significant increase in skin cancer cases, a trend that contradicts the past perception of it being solely a Western health issue. Rising pollution, extreme ultraviolet radiation, and shifting lifestyle patterns are contributing factors, making skin cancer a growing reality across the nation. While internal cancers represent a larger burden, the proportion of skin cancers is steadily increasing.

Medical professionals highlight that early detection is critical for successful treatment. They utilize the ABCDE rule—Asymmetry, Border, Colour, Diameter, and Evolving—to help individuals identify suspicious moles. These warning signs, such as irregular borders, uneven colors, or changes in size and shape, warrant immediate medical attention from a dermatologist.

Treatment for skin cancer, particularly melanoma, has advanced significantly. If detected early and completely excised, melanoma is curable. Modern medical interventions also include immunotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors as maintenance therapies to prevent recurrence, offering high success rates for early-stage cases.

To mitigate risks, individuals are advised to practice diligent sun protection. This includes using broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, avoiding peak sun hours (10 AM to 4 PM), and wearing protective clothing, hats, and sunglasses. Regular self-examinations using mirrors to check the entire body for new or changing moles are also strongly recommended.