How to Check for Skin Cancer at Home: A Skin Self-Exam Guide
A monthly skin self-exam takes about 10 minutes and can catch skin cancer before it becomes a bigger problem. Use a full-length mirror and a hand mirror to check your entire body, from scalp to soles, once a month. Look for anything new, changing, or unusual using the ABCDE rule, and call a dermatologist right away if you spot something concerning. Self-exams do not replace an annual professional skin exam, but they close the gap between visits, and that gap matters: localized melanoma has a greater than 99% 5-year survival rate, compared to 35% once it has spread.
Why A Monthly Skin Self-Exam Matters
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, with roughly 1 in 5 Americans developing some form of it by age 70. The good news: when caught early, most skin cancers, including melanoma, are highly treatable.
The gap between early and late detection is not small. When melanoma is caught while still localized to the skin, the 5-year relative survival rate is greater than 99%. Once it has spread to distant parts of the body, that drops to 35%. Most skin cancers are found by the patient, not the doctor. You see your own skin every day. A dermatologist sees it once a year, maybe twice if you’re higher risk. A self-exam is what fills that gap. It will not replace the tools and training a board-certified dermatologist brings to a professional skin exam, but it gives you a baseline for what’s normal on your body, so you notice when something isn’t.
What You Need For A Skin Self-Exam At Home
You do not need special equipment. Gather:
- A full-length mirror
- A hand-held mirror for hard-to-see spots
- Good, bright lighting
- A blow-dryer or comb (to part your hair and check your scalp)
- A partner, if possible, to help with your back, scalp, and other blind spots
The best time to do this is right after a shower, when your skin is clean and easy to see clearly.
How To Check For Skin Cancer At Home, Step By Step
Work from the top of your body down so you don’t skip a section. On your first exam, take your time. You’re learning the map of your own skin, moles, freckles, and marks included, so future changes stand out.
- Face, ears, and scalp. Check your nose, lips, mouth, and ears, front and back. Use the hand mirror and a blow-dryer or comb to part your hair and check your scalp section by section.
- Neck, chest, and torso. Look at the front and back of your torso. Women should lift their breasts to check the skin underneath.
- Arms and hands. Raise your arms to check your underarms and both sides of your torso. Look at your hands, including palms, the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your fingernails.
- Legs and feet. Sit down to check the front and back of your legs, thigh to shin. Check the tops and bottoms of your feet, between your toes, and under your toenails.
- Back and buttocks. Use both mirrors, or ask a partner, to check your back, buttocks, and genital area. These are common spots for skin cancer to go unnoticed simply because they’re hard to see.
The ABCDE Rule: What Skin Cancer Can Look Like
Not every mole or spot is cause for concern, but dermatologists use the ABCDE rule to describe the features that warrant a closer look:
- Asymmetry: One half of the spot doesn’t match the other.
- Border: Edges are jagged, notched, or blurred instead of smooth.
- Color: The spot has more than one color or shade, or looks different from your other moles.
- Diameter: Larger than 6 millimeters, about the size of a pencil eraser, though skin cancers can be smaller.
- Evolving: The spot is changing in size, shape, color, or texture, or is new.
Skin cancer doesn’t always follow this pattern exactly. A sore that won’t heal, a spot that bleeds or itches without an obvious cause, or a dark streak under a nail you haven’t injured are also reasons to get checked. If something on your skin makes you pause, it’s worth having a dermatologist look at melanoma and other skin cancers directly.
When To Call High Valley Dermatology
Don’t wait for your next annual exam if you notice:
- A new mole or growth that looks different from your other spots
- A mole that has changed in size, shape, or color
- A sore that bleeds, oozes, or hasn’t healed in 3 to 4 weeks
- A spot that itches, hurts, or feels tender for no clear reason
- A dark streak under a fingernail or toenail without an injury to explain it
High Valley Dermatology has 2 fellowship-trained Mohs micrographic surgeons on staff, Dr. Lindsay Sewell and Dr. Brandon Miner, both fellows of the American College of Mohs Surgery. That’s the highest level of training available for treating skin cancer, and it’s why patients across Southeast Idaho come to High Valley Dermatology when something on their skin doesn’t look right.
Frequently Asked Questions
Once a month is the general recommendation, especially if you have a personal or family history of skin cancer, fair skin, many moles, or significant sun exposure. Pair monthly self-checks with an annual professional skin exam.
The main signs are a new or changing mole, a sore that doesn't heal, a spot that bleeds or itches, and any growth that's asymmetrical, has an irregular border, uneven color, is larger than 6 millimeters, or is changing over time (the ABCDE rule).
It varies by type. Basal and squamous cell carcinomas often look like a pearly bump, a scaly patch, or a sore that won't heal. Melanoma often shows up as a new dark spot or an existing mole that starts changing in size, shape, or color.
Most skin cancers, including melanoma, are highly treatable when caught early. Localized melanoma has a 5-year relative survival rate greater than 99%. Outcomes get more complicated the longer a suspicious spot goes unchecked, which is exactly why regular self-exams and professional skin exams matter.
Yes, and it's especially important. Take a baseline photo of your skin during your first self-exam so you have something to compare future changes against. If keeping track feels overwhelming, a board-certified dermatologist can help you set up a monitoring plan.
No. A self-exam is what you do between visits. A dermatologist has specialized tools, like a dermatoscope, and years of training in pattern recognition that catch things a self-exam can't.
Call High Valley Dermatology to schedule an appointment. Don't wait to see if it goes away on its own, and don't try to diagnose it yourself. A same-day photo of the spot on your phone is a helpful thing to bring or reference when you call.
Ready To Get Your Skin Checked?
If your at-home skin exam turned up something you’re not sure about, don’t sit on it. Call High Valley Dermatology to schedule an appointment with one of our board-certified providers, including 2 fellowship-trained Mohs surgeons who specialize in skin cancer diagnosis and treatment.