Skin cancer is common — one in five people will develop it in their lifetime. But if you know what to look for and catch it early, most skin cancer is treatable.
There are no official recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force for skin cancer screening. However, the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends checking skin regularly for new growths or changes. For people of average risk, that may include an annual skin check by your primary care physician (PCP) or dermatologist and monthly self-checks at home. If you have a personal or family history of skin cancer, your provider may recommend screening more often.
Doing a skin self-check isn't difficult, and it won't take long. But it's critical to be thorough and know what to look for.
Here's what you need to know:
How to perform a skin cancer self-exam
The best time to check your skin is typically after a bath or shower, when your skin is clean. Stand naked in a well-lit room. To assess your skin from head to toe, you'll need a full-length mirror and a hand-held mirror. Having a partner, spouse or friend nearby to help with hard-to-see areas can also be helpful.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) suggests that you assess your skin in sections or parts, looking closely at your:
- Full body: Using a full-length mirror, scan the front, back and sides of your body (with your arms raised).
- Arms and hands: Check your forearms, underarms and armpits. Examine both sides of your hands, your fingernails and around and between your fingers.
- Legs and feet: Sitting down, look at the back of your legs and every part of your feet, including your toenails and the area between your toes.
- Neck and head: Check the front of your neck and your face, including your lips and eyelids. Use a hand-held mirror to help you take a closer look at the back of your neck and head, ears and top of your head. Part your hair to examine your scalp.
- Back and buttocks: Use the hand-held mirror — or ask someone to help — to check your back and buttocks.
When performed monthly — and as you get more familiar with every inch of your skin — a self-check should only take about five to 10 minutes.
What to look for in a skin check
During a skin self-exam, you'll look for new skin growths or changing moles that might indicate cancer. The first time you check your skin, take extra time to familiarize yourself with the moles, freckles and blemishes on your skin. The goal is to spot anything that looks suspicious, but also to note any changes or new additions the next time you do a self-check.
The most common skin cancer types include:
- Melanoma, which starts in the cells responsible for skin pigment (melanocytes), often develops as a mole. It is the most deadly form of skin cancer, with nearly 20 Americans dying from it daily, according to the AAD, because it can spread to other organs (metastasize) if not caught early.
- Non-melanoma skin cancers, such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, are slow-growing and develop in the top layer of the skin. They can cause damage if left untreated.
Non-melanomas may present as bumps (basal cell carcinoma) or a rough, scaly patch of skin (squamous cell carcinoma). To detect a possible melanoma, you'll need to look closely at each mole on your body.
What are the ABCDE features of melanoma?
Because melanoma can show up as a mole, it's often overlooked. Melanoma can develop anywhere, but commonly develops from a specific type of irregular mole called dysplastic nevi. Identifying and removing dysplastic nevi before it turns into melanoma can help prevent cancer.
To help identify irregular moles and the signs of early melanoma, experts developed the "ABCDE" rule. It can help you remember the warning signs to look for when examining a mole:
- A is for Asymmetry: One side of the mole does not match the other side.
- B is for Border: The mole's edge looks irregular, ragged or blurred.
- C is for Color: The mole has uneven color that may include multiple shades of brown, tan and black, possibly with areas of white, pink or gray.
- D is for Diameter: Some melanomas are small, but most are larger than the size of a pencil eraser (one-quarter-inch wide).
- E is for Evolving: Any changes in the above factors is cause for concern.
Normal, healthy moles should be small and round with an even border and one consistent color, typically brown, black or tan.
When to get skin changes checked out
It's always best to have any new skin growth or changes evaluated by a medical professional — either your PCP or a dermatologist. If you cannot see a physician in a timely manner, the American Cancer Society recommends taking close-up photos of the suspicious area every few days. That way, your doctor will see changes and can note how quickly they occur.
During your appointment, be prepared to answer questions about:
- When the spot first appeared
- Whether the growth or mole has changed
- If the area is painful, itchy or bleeding
- Your exposure to sun and tanning devices
- Your history of sunburns
- Family history of skin cancer
If the mole or growth looks suspicious, your physician may recommend a skin biopsy, which involves removing a small skin sample and examining it under a microscope.
Taking steps to prevent skin cancer every day and bringing any changes to your provider's attention are key. Cancer that is caught early is easier to treat.
