Spa Executive | Issue 11 | October 2019

very likely be nothing to worry about! But
sometimes it is an indication of a very serious
disease. And please keep an eye on the nail
beds—toes and fingers—-of your elderly loved
ones and your loved ones that aren’t
physically able to notice changes in the nail
beds! Early diagnosis can make all the
difference in the world!!!
Knowing the signs of skin cancer is key
to saving lives
This is a good reminder to spa service
providers that being informed about potential
signs of skin cancer, and speaking up when
you see them, can make a big different in a
client’s life.
For more information on these indicators, and
on whether a black line down the nail really is
an indication of melanoma, we reached out to
San Diego dermatologist and spokesperson
for the Skin Cancer Foundation, Susan Boiko.
Yes, a black line under the nail could be
melanoma
Dr. Boiko confirmed, when we showed her the
picture from the post, that a black line under
the nail can, indeed, be melanoma.
She said, “There are lots of reasons why you
could have a dark stripe under your nail, some
of which are nothing to worry about. But this
is clearly abnormal. It stands out and is
different.”
“Different” is the first indicator that
something might be wrong
“Different,” she said, is one of the first things
to take note of. “Different doesn’t always
mean bad, it just means different. You can see
pictures of common skin cancers on the Skin
Cancer Foundation website, but in my long
career as a dermatologist I have seen cancers
that don’t look like those typical pictures. So,
the most important thing is something that is
different.”
Other concerning signs as listed by Dr. Boiko
and on the Skin Cancer Foundation website,
can be as follows:
Bleeding: Dr. Boiko said, “One thing that is
really a waving red flag is something that is
bleeding. If you see something that is bleeding
that is a sign that someone should see their
doctor.”
Asymmetry: An asymmetrical mark can be a
cause for concern. Dr. Boiko said, “If you cut
the spot out and folded it over, one half would
not match the other.
Irregular border: Is it very clear where the
border begins and ends? And is the border
smooth? Skin cancers tend to have unclear
borders, as well as scalloped or notched
borders, while regular moles have smooth
borders.
Unusual color: “It could be black, brown,
pink, red, white, it could even look like a scar,”
said Dr. Boiko. But varied shades of black or
21 | Spa Executive Feature