Got a tattoo? You may be putting yourself at more risk of skin cancer if you spend a lot of time in the sun.

Because skin cancer typically presents as colored moles, spots or growths on the skin’s surface, tattoos can make it more difficult to detect changes.

“The larger the tattooed area and the darker the tattoo pigment, the greater the potential for not noticing a concerning lesion,” said Dr. Andrew Shapiro, a surgeon at Advanced Surgical Physicians in Wellington, Florida, who often removes skin lesions.

Shapiro said if there is a mole or spot in tattooed areas, he advises performing regular skin self-exams, paying close attention to anything that looks different, and “maintaining a low threshold for biopsy.”

Dr. John Berlin, a Boynton Beach, Florida, dermatologist, recently treated

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