Dermatologists Who Had Skin Cancer Share 7 Warnings That Can Save Your Life

When board-certified dermatologist Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi was pregnant with her first child, a dark spot formed on her lower leg. Six months later, when the spot began to grow, the alarm bells started ringing.

“As a dermatologist, I knew that any change in a mole could indicate developing cancer, so I had it biopsied, and it was a melanoma,” she said. “I was 37 at the time and extremely worried, but the surgeon was able to remove it completely.”

Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer, with over 9,000 Americans being diagnosed with the disease every day. Healthy sun safety practices, monthly self-checks and being cognizant of the ABC’s of skin cancer (asymmetry, border, color, diameter and evolving) are always good ideas, but dermatologists warn that there are other things to consider that people might find surprising.

1. You can get skin cancer underneath your nails.

Though reggae music pioneer Bob Marley died of melanoma that started underneath his toenail, the nails are still an area where cancer often goes undetected.

“We most commonly see squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma under the nail,” explained Dr. Jennifer Holman , a board-certified dermatologist with U.S. Dermatology Partners Tyler . “Squamous cell carcinoma presents much like a wart under the nail, while melanoma presents as new, irregular or changing pigment streaks along the nail and cuticle.”

The problem with this location is that it closely resembles a bleeding wart, bruise or fungal infection, and many people don’t realize it could be something more serious. For this reason, cancer that forms under the nail can have a very poor prognosis, Tanzi said.

2. Just one session of indoor tanning can increase the risk of melanoma.

Holman,