One of the first steps in the prevention and early detection of melanoma is self-examination of the skin. It involves a detailed inspection of the skin, from head to toe.

In addition to easily accessible areas, when performing a self-exam, you should not forget harder-to-reach regions. The soles of your feet, the skin between your toes, the backs of your legs, your buttocks, your back, the area behind your ears, your head, and the mucous membranes of the genital area. To properly examine these less accessible areas, you can use a camera (usually your phone), a mirror, or ask a close person to help.

So, don’t forget to perform a self-examination of your skin. Make it a good habit. Remember, melanoma can appear suddenly as a new pigmentation or on pre-existing pigmented changes.

The easiest and most effective way to perform a skin self-exam is using the famous "ABCDE" algorithm. It involves the following:

- **A – “Asymmetry”**: Benign moles are typically symmetrical, round, or oval in shape. Melanomas are often irregularly shaped with an asymmetrical appearance.

- **B – “Border”**: Moles have smooth, even edges. Melanomas have irregular, jagged borders.

- **C – “Color”**: Melanomas often have a mixed coloration, with various shades, such as brown, black, bluish, white, and reddish. Benign moles usually have a uniform color.

- **D – “Diameter”**: Any pigmented change greater than 5mm in diameter deserves attention. While melanomas can be as small as 1-2mm, and some benign moles can be larger than 5mm, any size change in a mole signals the need to see a dermatologist.

- **E – “Evolution”**: Any change in the mole’s color, wetness, bleeding, redness, etc., requires a medical check-up.

By applying the "ABCDE" algorithm, you can be better prepared for self-examination and know when to seek help from a dermatologist. A dermatologist can easily and non-invasively assess the change with a dermoscopic examination, quickly determining whether it is completely benign, suspicious (requiring monitoring or removal), or a melanoma.

Be careful with the sun! You must not allow the pigment-free areas, the whitish spots, to turn pink. So, no sunburns.

Consume foods rich in carotene: carrots, apricots, pumpkins, green leafy vegetables...

Be cautious of skin injuries. Minor abrasions, scratches, and the like leave a white mark on vitiligo skin.

Every mole can be removed. It is a misconception that a mole "should not be touched." There are three main reasons why a mole might be removed:

- **Medical indication** – suspicious dermoscopic characteristics of the mole.

- **Normal mole** – with a normal dermoscopic result, but with an anatomical location that is prone to injury (face in men – injury from shaving, folds – injury from constant friction, torso in women – injury from a bra).

- **Aesthetic reasons** – when you simply "don't like" your mole.

The only proper way to remove a mole is surgically! Unfortunately, there are doctors, including dermatologists, who will recommend removing a mole with radio waves or laser. This is unacceptable!

Every mole removed should be sent for pathological examination. This is a principle that must be followed. When you burn something with radio waves or a laser, you cannot adhere to this principle.

If any of the mentioned reasons for mole removal apply to you, consult a plastic surgeon. This is the only correct approach!

Seborrheic Dermatitis is a chronic skin condition that affects almost 40% of the global population. It is not a disease but rather a skin type, constitution, or condition.

At its core, Seborrheic Dermatitis is caused by overactive sebaceous glands, which are often genetically predisposed.

Various triggers can activate Seborrheic Dermatitis. These may include stress, hormones, immune system status, diet, and climatic factors.

The clinical symptoms of Seborrheic Dermatitis include redness and flaking in Seborrheic areas. These areas include the scalp, face (around the nose and mouth, as well as between the eyebrows), the ear lobes, and in men, the upper chest area.

The appearance of Seborrheic changes can closely resemble Atopic Dermatitis or Psoriasis. A simple clinical examination by a dermatologist will help determine the exact issue.

Seborrheic Dermatitis is characterized by periods of improvement and flare-ups. Despite its chronic nature, it can be regulated and kept under control. With appropriate treatment and proper skin care, Seborrheic Dermatitis doesn’t have to be part of your daily life or the reason for a bad start to your day.

The connection between diet and Acne is a common topic at dermatology conferences and professional meetings. While science has not confirmed a direct causal relationship (except for milk and dairy products), practice tells a different story. Diet does indeed have a significant impact on skin health, especially Acne-prone skin.

If you're motivated to change your habits to improve acne, pay attention to the following:

- Reduce the consumption of milk and dairy products.  

- Base your diet on foods with a low glycemic index.  

- Avoid refined carbohydrates, chocolate, fatty and fast food, and industrially processed products containing additives, emulsifiers, and flavor enhancers.  

- Be mindful of alcohol consumption. Its excretion through sweat glands disrupts the skin microbiome, which creates a favorable environment for the multiplication of *Propionibacterium Acnes* bacteria, known to cause inflammatory processes and Acne formation.

Therefore, patients with Acne should be advised to change their diet. The diet should focus on fresh fruits and vegetables, unsaturated fatty acids (increase fish intake – Mediterranean diet), with reduced consumption of high glycemic index foods. Avoid pasta, crackers, snacks, fried food, sweets, juices, and other sugary drinks.

After all of this, don’t despair. With thoughtful food choices and mindful eating, food can still be a personal enjoyment, and you will surely become healthier and more beautiful!

Regularly wash your face with a gel for oily skin, but don’t overdo it. Excessive stripping of oils sends a signal to the sebaceous glands to work harder, which makes the skin even oilier.

Use appropriate UV protection. Choose “oil-free” products for oily skin.

Thoroughly remove makeup. Micellar water is the best choice for this purpose.

Hydrate your skin regularly, even if it’s oily. Oily skin can also be "thirsty." Always choose light textures. Labels like "light" or "legere" cream, emulsion, or fluid are a good choice.

Avoid powders. They clog pores and contribute to the appearance of acne, a common issue with oily skin. A better option is a tinted cream for oily skin from medical cosmetics.

Occasionally use a serum with mild acids. Regular micro-peeling, which the serum promotes, will significantly improve the texture of your skin, and your pores will stay clean.

Blackheads, or comedones, are clogged pores filled with sebum, dirt, and dead skin cells. When we refer to blackheads, we usually mean open comedones, which appear as black spots on the surface of the skin, commonly found in individuals with oily or combination skin.

The black color of blackheads (comedones) forms when the contents clogging the pores come into contact with oxygen in the air and oxidize.

Closed comedones are typically above the skin’s surface and are white in color. They represent trapped sebum within the pores, beneath the outer skin layer.

There are many causes of comedones: genetics, oily skin, hormonal imbalance, certain medications, sugary foods, dairy products, and comedogenic cosmetics.

Do not squeeze comedones (especially closed ones)!

There are products that dissolve the "plugs" in pores and solve the problem of these small troublemakers without damaging the skin.

Atopic Dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that is genetically determined. It is characterized by periods of flare-ups and improvements in the skin's condition. It can appear in the earliest stages of life, especially in predisposed newborns. The clinical picture involves redness on the skin, accompanied by itching and flaking.

In newborns, changes often appear on the face (cheeks and chin), scalp, hands, and feet. In older children, the folds of the elbows and knees are typically affected. With growth and maturation of the immune response, children usually outgrow this issue, typically during preschool or school age.

Atopic Dermatitis is primarily caused by dry skin, specifically a compromised skin barrier. For this reason, skincare for atopic skin requires special attention:

- Regularly moisturizing the skin with rich, fatty textures is essential in preventing Atopic Dermatitis. This is especially important during the winter months.

- Daily bathing in too hot water with unsuitable bath products and soaps further damages the already compromised skin barrier. Choose oil-based baths and liquid syndets.

- Excessive bundling up and sweating irritate the skin and intensify itching.

- Cotton clothing is always the best choice, especially for children with atopic skin issues.

- Detergents and fabric softeners can trigger flare-ups of Atopic Dermatitis, so take care in choosing appropriate products.

- If a child is sick with a cold or viral infection, eczema flare-ups are expected. Strengthen your child's immunity.

- Skin prone to atopy “loves” the sun. Children with Eczema generally benefit from summer and time spent by the sea, when the symptoms usually improve.

- Atopy manifestations can affect the skin (eczema), respiratory system (asthma or allergic rhinitis), and eyes (allergic conjunctivitis).

- An interesting fact: literature suggests that children with atopy are often above-average in intelligence. Embrace your child's uniqueness and help them overcome the challenges of atopy with proper care.