This content was created by Jane Yoo. This content was uploaded by Jane Yoo. This is a YouTube video titled "Melanoma Warning Signs | Skin Cancer Symptoms and Prevention Tips" (posted 2025-05-26) featuring Dr. Jane Yoo, a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon. It is an informational monologue for Melanoma Awareness Month explaining what melanoma is, estimated incidence, where it can occur, the ABCDE rule for detection (Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Evolving) and the "ugly duckling" sign, the four main melanoma types (superficial spreading, lentigo maligna, acral lentiginous, nodular), treatment approaches (surgery, lymph node biopsy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation), presentation differences in darker skin tones, and prevention recommendations (broad-spectrum SPF 30+, avoiding tanning beds, regular skin checks).
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Hi, I'm Dr. Jane Yoo, board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon. May is Melanoma Awareness Month, and it's the perfect time to talk about one of the most serious forms of skin cancer, melanoma. Melanoma starts in the melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells in our skin. It's less common than basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma, but it's much more aggressive and and far more likely to spread if not caught early. Although melanoma accounts for a smaller share of skin cancer diagnoses, it causes the majority of skin cancer-related deaths. In 2025, more than 200,000 Americans were expected to be diagnosed with melanoma, including over 100,000 invasive cases. Melanoma can appear as a new spot or as a change in existing mole. It may show up anywhere on the body. Even in places not commonly exposed to the sun, like the palms, soles, scalp, or even under the nails. It can also develop in the eyes or the mucous membranes. One of the best tools that we have is the ABCDE rule. A is for asymmetry, where one half doesn't match the other. B is for border—irregular, blurred, or uneven edges. C is for color—multiple shades in one lesion. Brown, black, red, blue, or white. D is for diameter—larger than 6 millimeters, or about the size of a pencil eraser. Finally, E is for evolving—any change in size, shape, color, or symptoms like itching or bleeding. So if something looks different from the rest, what we call the ugly duckling sign, it's worth getting checked. There are 4 main types of melanoma. Superficial spreading melanoma is the most common and often grows across the surface before going deeper. Lentigo maligna melanoma appears on sun-damaged skin in older adults, especially on the face and the arms. Acral lentiginous melanoma, more common in people with skin of color, shows up on the palms, soles, and underneath the nails. Finally, nodular melanoma is the most aggressive and grows deeper. Faster, often as a firm bump that may be dark, red, or pink. Treatment usually begins with surgical removal, but advanced cases may also require lymph node biopsies, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiation. But melanoma can affect anyone, regardless of skin tone. In darker skin tones, it's often found in less sun-exposed areas like the feet or inside the mouth. The best defense? Prevention! Wear broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Reapply throughout the day, avoid tanning beds, and do regular skin checks. Melanoma is serious, but it's also highly treatable when caught early. Awareness and action go a long way.
