You don’t have to wait for your annual physician check-up to find a problem. There are plenty of easy detection methods you can use year-round to catch potential issues at their beginnings. Here are six signs that you may need to schedule yourself a little earlier than planned to see your doctor.

Flaky Patches of Dry Skin
Often mistaken for eczema, these red patches of skin may itch and irritate the skin. If they arrive suddenly, without a prior history of eczema, you could be developing a pre-cancer that can potentially lead to carcinoma. See your doctor for his opinion.

Also Read: Dry, Itchy Scalp-Eczema, Flaky Skin on Eyelids/Face-Causes & Treatments

Growing Moles
There’s nothing wrong with moles necessarily, and you may have had a number of them for as long as you can remember. If you have one that seems to be growing, however, it’s time to get a second look. This could point to developing skin cancer, and needs to be caught and fixed as soon as possible.

Constant Sore
You may have a dry or lumpy sore, either pale or red in color. If this small sore doesn’t seem to be going away, you may be looking at basal cell carcinoma. This is a mild form of malignant skin cancer. It is not normally fatal, but it destroys the cells surrounding it and should be dealt with quickly. Either surgical excision or topical chemotherapy will do the trick, it’s up to you and your doctor.

Also Read: Hard Lumps or Bumps Under Skin – Nose Cancer/Sores – Skin Ulcers/Growths

Puffy Spots
This is characterized by a collection of puffy growths, red in color and prone to bleeding. If you notice this area slowly growing, it’s a good sign you have a case of squamous cell carcinoma. This is one of the most common forms of skin cancer, and can also occur on internal organs. You will need surgery or radiotherapy to remedy the problem.

Large Dark Spot
Similar to a mole, you may notice a flat, dark spot with uneven edges that may be growing bigger and darker. This is a very serious concern, and you need to let your doctor know as soon as possible. If you have melanoma, a more uncommon skin cancer, your life could be at risk. Some cases lead to fatality in a matter of six weeks, so see a surgeon to get the growth removed. Have your doctor also perform further procedures to ensure the cancer does not return.

Dome-Shaped Growth
If you’ve noticed a growth dark in color, dome-shaped, and looking somewhat like a blood-blister, you may have nodular melanoma. Especially if the spot is growing, you’ll want to get it looked at. This disorder is also a very serious form of melanoma, and should be dealt with immediately. The same surgical excision procedures are your best bet if you see this kind of growth on your skin.

We live in a time of advanced knowledge, with medical research (Cleveland, OH) teams consistently churning out studies to encourage the public to better protect themselves. If you have any questions or concerns about your skin, it’s always better to see your doctor and be safe now rather than sorry later. If your doctor gives you an opinion you disagree with, get a second opinion and Consult A Dermatologist. These skin disorders are nothing to play around with, and every week you go in ignorance about your health are weeks that you may never get back.