You know your skin better than anyone. That makes you the best person to notice when something new shows up or an old spot starts to change. Many skin cancers — including melanoma, the most serious type — are first found by patients or their partners. Here’s how to do a thorough self-check.
How Often Should I Check My Skin?
Many dermatology and cancer organizations suggest checking your own skin about once a month. Pick a well-lit room, and use a full-length mirror plus a handheld mirror. Go head to toe:
- Scalp: Part your hair (a blow dryer helps) and check your scalp and the back of your neck.
- Face, ears, neck: Look closely, including behind the ears.
- Chest and belly: Lift breasts to check underneath.
- Arms: Raise them and check the sides, underarms, front and back of arms, hands, between fingers, and under nails (remove polish).
- Back and buttocks: Use the handheld mirror.
- Legs and feet: Sit down to check the front, sides, and backs of legs, plus the soles, between the toes, and toenails.
- Genital area: Don’t skip it.
What to look for: the ABCDEs
The ABCDE guide helps you remember the warning signs of melanoma:
- A — Asymmetry: One half of the spot doesn’t match the other.
- B — Border: Edges are ragged, notched, or blurry.
- C — Color: Uneven color, or several shades of brown, black, tan — and sometimes red, white, or blue.
- D — Diameter: Larger than a pencil eraser (about 6 mm) — though melanomas can be smaller.
- E — Evolving: Any change in size, shape, color, or feel over weeks to months. This is one of the most important signs.
The “Ugly Duckling” Sign
Most of your moles tend to look alike. A spot that clearly looks different from all the others — the “ugly duckling” — deserves a closer look, even if it doesn’t check every ABCDE box.
Other warning signs beyond moles
Skin cancer doesn’t always look like a dark mole. Also watch for:
- A sore that doesn’t heal within a few weeks, or heals and comes back.
- A spot that itches, bleeds, oozes, or crusts.
- A shiny, pearly, or translucent bump, or a rough, scaly, red patch.
- A spot that is painful to the touch.
Some dangerous melanomas are pink, red, or skin-colored (not dark) — so don’t ignore a changing spot just because it isn’t brown.
Photo Documentation
Snapping dated photos of spots (especially ones you’re watching) makes it much easier to notice real change over time. Having a partner help check hard-to-see areas like your back and scalp also improves detection.
When to Schedule a Dermatology Appointment
Make an appointment if you find a new spot, one that’s changing, or looks different from your others — or any of the warning signs above. If a spot is changing quickly, don’t wait. A quick check and, if needed, a small biopsy is the only way to know for sure. Catching skin cancer early makes treatment simpler and outcomes much better. Schedule an appointment today!