How do people get skin cancer?

Let's be real, many of us in India think our dark skin protects us from skin cancer, but that is a dangerous myth. Acral lentiginous melanoma can appear on palms and soles where sun exposure isn't even a factor. Stop skipping sunscreen and get any weird patches looked at by a dermatologist.

Don't start inspecting every single freckle with a magnifying glass and panicking tonight! Yes, UV rays are real, but most of our everyday moles are completely harmless. Just make sunscreen your new best friend and stop staring at Google images of weird spots.

I ignored a tiny, non-healing sore on my neck for almost a year thinking it was just a shaving cut, until it started bleeding. It turned out to be a basal cell carcinoma that required surgical removal. Please, if you see any new spot or mole that changes shape, get it checked immediately.

When I consulted a dermatologist about an unusual spot, she explained that UV radiation from the sun is the leading cause of DNA damage in skin cells. She also mentioned that while people with fair skin are at higher risk, anyone can get it, and we should use the ABCDE method to monitor moles regularly.

Please do not trust random online videos claiming that coconut oil or herbal pastes can cure skin growths or cancers. If there is a malignant change in a mole, only a proper surgical excision and biopsy can save you. Go see a certified dermatologist and verify your symptoms scientifically.

If you notice a strange mole changing shape, getting it checked early at a government hospital or charitable clinic is very cheap. Skipping or delaying a basic biopsy because of cost concerns can lead to extremely expensive cancer treatments later. Plan a basic screening first.