Did you know you can develop skin cancer on your eyelid?

Several types of skin cancers can affect your eyelids, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. There are also some not-so-serious skin lesions that can affect your eyelids, too.

Make sure and alert your ophthalmologist or optometrist for any new or changing skin lesions around your face and eyelids.

Follow the ABCs of skin lesions:

A is for asymmetry. A benign (non-cancerous) lesion is typically symmetrical when you draw an imaginary line down the middle of it. If both sides look the same, then usually it’s not serious.
B for borders. If the borders are becoming irregular, then this could signal a more serious skin lesion that is cancerous, or malignant.

C for color. If the color is changing, this could also signal a malignant lesion.
D for diameter. If the lesion is growing outward, then this could also signal that the lesion is malignant.
E for elevation. If the lesion is growing vertically up from the skin, this could also signal that the skin lesion could be malignant.

Prevention: Wear sunscreen, sunglasses with UV protection and a hat with a broad rim to minimize sun exposure, particularly between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

(Dr. Robert F. Melendez is CEO and founder of Juliette Eye Institute, and performs LASIK and cataract surgery. He lives in Corrales.)

Dr. Robert Melendez