Skin self-exam

• How the test is performed

  The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommend that people perform a skin self-exam once a month.

  The easiest time to do the exam may be after you take a bath or shower. Women may wish to perform their skin self-exam when they do their monthly breast self-exam. Men may want to do the skin self-exam when they perform their monthly testicular self-exam.

  Ideally, the room should have a full-length mirror and bright lights so that you can see your entire body.

  When you are performing the skin self-exam, look for:

  • New skin markings (moles, blemishes, colorations, bumps)
  • Moles that have changed in size, texture, color, or shape
  • Moles or lesions that continue to bleed or won't heal
  • Moles with uneven edges, differences in color, or lack of symmetry
  • Any mole or growth that appears very different from other skin growths

  Experts recommend that you examine your skin in the following way:

  • Look closely at your entire body, both front and back, in the mirror.
  • Check under your arms and both sides of each arm.
  • Examine your forearms after bending your arms at the elbows, and then look at the palms of your hands and underneath your upper arms.
  • Look at the front and back of both legs.
  • Look at your buttocks and between your buttocks.
  • Examine your genital area.
  • Look at your face, neck, back of neck, and scalp. It is best to use both a hand mirror and full-length mirror, along with a comb, to see areas of your scalp.
  • Look at your feet, including the soles and the space between your toes.
  • Have a person you trust help by examining hard-to-see areas.
• Special considerations

  Always tell your doctor if:

  • You have any new or unusual sores or spots on your skin
  • A mole or skin lesion changes in size, color, or texture
  • You have a sore that does not heal

  See also:

  • Basal cell cancer
  • Melanoma
  • Squamous cell carcinoma

Review Date: 8/12/2009

Reviewed By: Michael Lehrer, M.D., Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.