This four-part series on skin cancer and melanoma awareness is presented by Mitchell Hanson, Mark Strom MD in partnership with celebrity esthetician Ian Michael Crumm, the 2025 #GetNaked spokesperson for the Melanoma Research Foundation. Featuring expert insights from board-certified dermatologists, each article is designed to educate, empower, and inspire our community to prioritize skin health through prevention, early detection, and routine skin checks. Join Ian and the MRF in spreading the message: protect your skin, know the signs, and don’t wait to #GetNaked for your skin exam.
How Can You Catch Skin Cancer Early?
We’ve talked about ways to prevent skin cancer—like wearing sunscreen, covering up with clothing, and avoiding the sun when it’s strongest. But how do we detect skin cancer early before it becomes dangerous?
One of the easiest ways is to check your own skin. This is called a self-skin exam, and it only takes about a minute! The American Academy of Dermatology has published a video that shows how to do it. You should look all over your body, including places that are hard to see, like:
- The back of your arms
- Under your nails
- The bottom of your feet
- Your scalp and neck
- The genital area
Research shows most people or their family members can actually spot their skin cancer themselves!
Easy Ways to Check Your Skin
You can use two simple rules to spot changes in your skin that should encourage you to see a doctor:
The “Ugly Duckling” Rule: If a spot on your skin looks very different from others, it might be a problem.
The “ABCDE” Rule:
- A – Asymmetry: If you draw a line through the spot, are both sides the same?
- B – Border: Are the edges smooth and even, or rough and uneven?
- C – Color: Does the spot have different colors instead of just one?
- D – Diameter: Is the spot bigger than a pencil eraser?
- E – Evolving: Has the spot changed over time?
If you notice any of these, you should show them to a dermatologist (a doctor who takes care of skin).
We understand it can be daunting to start self examining for cancer, so we asked Dr. Strom for advice. He says, “I think that the most important aspect of doing a self-check at home is… simply taking the time to do it and getting accustomed to the types of moles and growths that they have on their skin. If they notice any that look concerning or different from their prior check, having a dermatologist examine it is super important.”
Getting a Skin Check from a Doctor
Doctors can check your whole body to see if you have any skin cancer spots. Some people feel comfortable doing this, but for others—especially transgender and gender-nonconforming people—it can feel uncomfortable as a result of past experiences in medical environments. It’s important to support your friends and chosen family in getting checked while also understanding that this experience may be tough for them.
How Do Doctors Treat Skin Cancer?
If a doctor finds a spot that might be cancer, they will test it by doing a skin biopsy. This means that they will remove a small piece of the skin to examine under a microscope. Depending on the results, treatment could include:
- Cryotherapy – Using cold temperatures to freeze and kill cancer cells.
- Topical chemotherapy creams – Medicine that attacks cancer cells.
- Surgery – The spot is completely removed.
- Other treatments – In very serious cases, doctors may recommend radiation or chemotherapy.
- Monitoring – The doctor watches the spot to make sure it doesn’t grow back.
More scary things – treatment! Dr. Strom says, “I always discuss skin cancer treatment in terms of ‘we’ rather than ‘I’ or ‘you.’ Saying something as simple as ‘we are going to come with a plan together to make sure that we can give you the best treatment for your skin cancer,’ goes a long way to help people feel more comfortable with their treatment.” Your doctor will work together with you to come up with a treatment plan that you are both comfortable with.
Where Can You Learn More?
There are lots of places to learn about skin cancer and how to protect your skin!
- The American Academy of Dermatology and IMPACT Melanoma share tips on staying safe in the sun.
- The National Cancer Institute has information about treating skin cancer.
We also understand the hardship that comes with feeling like a doctor may not validate you or see you for who you are – we asked Dr. Strom how he feels about the importance of LGBTQIA+ representation in dermatology and he replied by saying, “I think that it is SUPER important in multiple ways. LGBTQ+ dermatologists may have a better understanding of the specific risk factors and behaviors that may increase the risk of skin cancer in LGBTQ+ patients, and thus may be better able to counsel them on prevention. I also think that having visible LGBTQ+ dermatologists will help LGBTQ+ patients be more comfortable in seeking the care of a dermatologist for treatment of their skin cancer.”
There are also great gay dermatologists and aestheticians on social media who talk about skin health:
Dr. Angelo Landriscina (@dermangelo)
Dr. Kanul Malik (@dermdocmalik)
Ian Michael Crumm (@ianmcrumm)
Dr. Mark Strom (@dermmarkologist)
Dr. Dan Belkin (@drdanbelkin)
Stay up to date on the latest news in skin care, see your dermatologists, and stay sun safe for Pride!
