Skin self-exam
Definition
Doing a skin self-exam involves checking your skin for any unusual growths or skin changes. A skin self-exam may help find skin problems early. Finding skin cancer early may give you a better chance for being cured.
Alternative Names
Skin cancer - self-exam; Melanoma - self-exam; Basal cell cancer - self-exam; Squamous cell - self-exam; Skin mole - self-exam
How to do a Skin Self-exam
Checking your skin regularly can help you notice any unusual changes. Follow your health care provider's recommendations on how often to check your skin.
These tips may be helpful:
- The easiest time to do the exam may be after you bathe or shower.
- If you are a woman and do regular breast self-exams, this is also a good time to check your skin.
- If possible, use a full-length mirror in a room with bright lights so you can see your entire body.
Look for these things when doing a skin self-exam:
New skin markings:
- Bumps
- Moles
- Blemishes
- Changes in color
Moles that have changed in:
- Size
- Texture
- Color
- Shape
Also look for "ugly duckling" moles. These are moles that look and feel different from other nearby moles.
Moles with:
- Uneven edges
- Differences in color or asymmetric colors
- Lack of even sides (look different from one side to the other)
Also look for:
- Moles or sores that continue to bleed or will not heal
- Any mole or growth that looks very different from other skin growths around them
To do a skin self-exam:
- Look closely at your entire body, both front and back, in the mirror.
- Check under your arms and on both sides of each arm. Be sure to look at the backs of your upper arms, which can be hard to see.
- Bend your arms at the elbow, and look at both sides of your forearm.
- Look at the tops and palms of your hands.
- 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 your neck, and scalp. 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 spaces between your toes.
- Have a person you trust help examine hard-to-see areas.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Tell your provider right away if:
- You have any new or unusual sores or spots on your skin
- A mole or skin sore changes in shape, size, color, or texture
- You spot an ugly duckling mole
- You have a sore that does not heal
References
American Academy of Dermatology website. Find skin cancer: how to perform a skin self-exam. www.aad.org/public/diseases/skin-cancer/find/check-skin. Updated May 15, 2023. Accessed October 16, 2023.
National Cancer Institute website. Skin cancer screening (PDQ) - health professional version. www.cancer.gov/types/skin/hp/skin-screening-pdq. Updated May 24, 2023. Accessed October 16, 2023.
US Preventive Services Task Force, Bibbins-Domingo K, Grossman DC, et al. Screening for skin cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2016;316(4):429-435. PMID: 27458948 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27458948/.
Reviewed By: Elika Hoss, MD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
