Regular skin self-exams are especially
important for people who are at higher risk of
skin cancer, such as people with reduced
immunity, people who have had skin cancer
before, and people with a strong family history
of skin cancer. Talk to your doctor about how
often you should examine your skin. Follow the
steps below to do a self-exam. FACING THE MIRROR Check your face, ears, neck, chest, and
belly. Women will need to lift their
breasts to check the skin underneath.
Check your underarm areas, both sides
of your arms, the tops and palms of
your hands, in between your fingers,
and under your fingernails. SITTING DOWN Check the front of your thighs, shins,
tops of your feet, in between your toes,
and under your toenails.
Now use a hand mirror to look at the
bottoms of your feet, your calves, and
the backs of your thighs, first checking
one leg and then the other. SITTING DOWN Use the hand mirror to check your
buttocks, genital area, lower and upper
back, and the back of your neck and
ears. Or it may be easier to look at your
back in the wall mirror using a hand
mirror.
Use a comb or hair dryer to part your
hair so that you can check your scalp. TIMING IS IMPORTANT The best time to do a skin self-exam is after a bath or
shower. Check any moles, blemishes, or birthmarks
from the top of your head to your toes. If you look at
your skin regularly, you will know what’s normal for you.
Not all skin cancers look the same. In fact, skin cancers
can show up in many shapes and sizes. Sometimes they
might even look like other skin conditions. Many skin
cancers are more common on parts of the body that
tend to get more sun, such as the face, head, neck, and
arms. But skin cancers can occur anywhere on the body.