How to Perform Skin Cancer Self-Exams

It is estimated that one in five people will develop skin cancer by the age of 70. Like most cancers, treating skin cancer has a higher rate of success when caught in the early stages. Performing a self-exam for signs of skin cancer is one of the best ways to detect early-stage skin cancer. Here is how to check for possible skin cancer on yourself and your loved ones.

Self-exams for skin cancer should be performed once a month. While skin cancer is more likely to be on areas normally exposed to the sun, that is not always the case. It is important to do a complete head-to-toe exam. This is how to complete your exam and what to look for during your monthly checks.

• When performing your exam, you are looking for any changes in your skin, including irregularities in moles or new lesions.
• Start with your face and head. Check your nose, mouth, ears and scalp – use a mirror to check the areas you cannot see or have a family member exam those areas.
• Examine your hands, looking between the fingers, on the palms and by the fingernails.
• Stand in front of a mirror and examine your arms and arm pits, raising your arms over your head.
• View your torso front and back – women should lift and move breasts for a full exam.
• Check the front of your pelvic area, legs and the top of your feet, then the back of all with a mirror.
• Use a mirror to check genitals and buttock area.

If you perform this exam every month, you can catch any skin abnormalities right away. Schedule an appointment with a dermatologist if you find any concerning growths to get a diagnosis and treatment.

Posted on behalf of:
Medical Dermatology Specialists
5730 Glenridge Drive, Suite T-100
Atlanta GA 30328
(404) 939-9220

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