An important reminder from Georgie Gardner... that might just save your life.

Former Today news reader and host of Mornings on 9, Georgie Gardner, today reminded us how important it is to get your skin checked out by a professional.

Georgie Gardner, 43, posted an image on her instagram account after visiting the skin doctor.

The caption read: “Gentle reminder to be sun smart & get skin checked – squamous cell carcinoma cut out #sore”

And the picture? You guessed it… a few tiny stitches under the nose.

As our health and beauty site The Glow reported….

Everyone has, at least once in their life, spotted a freckle or a mole they haven’t seen before and wondered whether they should do something about it.

“I’ll get it checked,” we promise ourselves. Then we get distracted, move on and before you know it weeks, maybe even years, have passed. The biggest problem is most of us have no idea what to look for. What’s considered normal and what should you be concerned about?

It’s important to be aware of spots on your skin and be conscious about any ways they change, according to Craig Sinclair, chair of Cancer Council Australia’s Public Health Committee

“Melanoma requires skills to properly diagnose, there are simple things you can do to detect early signs. Spots on your skin can change in shape, colour or size, so if you see any change in even one of these three, visit your GP,” he says. “While melanoma is the rarest form of skin cancer, unfortunately it’s also the most likely to kill you.”

Fortunately early detection significantly increases chances of survival. And there are two simple methods you can use to pick it up early.

Take notes, stick this on your fridge and share it with your friends and family – you never know how useful it could be.

The ABCDE method focuses on spotting changes to the appearance of your moles.

A – Asymmetry: If you drew a line through your mole and the two halves do not match, it is asymmetrical which is a warning sign for melanoma. Normal moles are symmetrical.

B – Borders: A normal mole has smooth, even border unlike melanomas. The borders of an early melanoma could be uneven, with scalloped or notched edges.

C- Colour: Most normal moles are all one colour, usually a shade of brown. If yours has a variety of colours, this is a warning signal. This could include different shades of brown, tan or black, and could even become red, white or blue.

D- Diameter: Normal moles usually have a smaller diameter than malignant ones, roughly 1/4 inch or bigger. It’s crucial to monitor changes in size for this reason.

E – Evolving: Benign moles look the same over time, so a mole that starts to evolve or change in size, shape, colour or elevation should trigger warning bells. Bleeding, itching or crusting also points to danger. If this happens, make an appointment with a doctor – your family GP is fine.

Warning sign 2: The Ugly Duckling

The second method, dubbed ‘Ugly Duckling’  is based on the premise that that your ‘normal’ moles look similar to each other, like siblings. Moles or lesions that look different and stand out (the ‘ugly duckling’ of the bunch) should be treated as suspicious and looked at.

While there is no set regime about how often you should check yourself (skincare.org recommends monthly), Sinclair stresses it’s all about being aware of any changes to existing spots on your body.

“If something feels wrong, trust your gut and see a doctor,” he says. “Even if (as is most likely) it turns out to be nothing, it’s important to have that peace of mind.”

When was the last time you had your skin checked? Be honest…