ASDS premieres Skin Self Exam Kit on Facebook

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. In recognition of Skin Cancer Awareness Month and the increasing incidence of skin cancer in the United States, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery on Tuesday created a free Skin Self Exam kit available on the Society’s Facebook site.

“Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and is the second most common cancer affecting women aged 20 to 29,” stated Robert Weiss, president of the ASDS. “The 5-year survival rate for people whose melanoma is detected and treated before it spreads is 99%; therefore, it’s critical that consumers perform regular self-skin exams. Through Facebook, the ASDS is pleased to provide young women and men who are at highest risk for skin cancer with resources that could potentially save their lives.”

The kit and site were created to educate younger audiences about the potential dangers of skin cancer and the importance of early detection methods.

The ASDS’ SSE kit includes instructions on how to properly monitor and measure suspicious moles and other lesions. The kit, available on the ASDS’ Facebook site, provides consumers with statistics and background information about skin cancer, instructions for completing a thorough self-skin exam, and examples of what to look for when monitoring moles and freckles for the ABCDE’s of melanoma: asymmetry, border irregularity, color variation, diameter and evolving (changes to a mole’s size or coloring). To track mole locations and changes to the skin, the ASDS has provided consumers with a 12-month journal, which includes a diagram of the body.