How to check your own skin
A 10-minute monthly self-exam, step by step.
A monthly self-exam helps you notice changes early, when skin cancer is most treatable. It takes about ten minutes.
What you'll need
A bright room, a full-length mirror and a hand mirror. Ask a partner to help with your back and scalp.
Work head to toe
- Face, ears, neck, chest and belly.
- Underarms, both sides of your arms, palms and backs of hands, between fingers and under nails.
- Fronts and backs of legs, feet, soles and between toes.
- Use the hand mirror for the back of your neck, back and buttocks.
- Part your hair to check your scalp.
What to look for
New spots, a spot that looks different from your others, or any mole that changes — see the ABCDE rule. Take a photo each month (or use Naevus's mole tracker) so you can compare over time.
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