Summer Wellness: How to Do a Self-Exam for Skin Cancer
Wondering how to do a skin self-exam? Follow the advice from the American Academy of Dermatology:
Examine your body front and back in the mirror, then right and left sides with arms raised.
Bend your elbows and look carefully at your forearms, upper underarms and palms.
Look at the backs of your legs and feet, the spaces between your toes and the soles of your feet.
Examine the back of your neck and scalp with a hand mirror. Part your hair for a closer look.
Finally, check your back and buttocks with a hand mirror.
To perform this exam properly, you need a well-lit room with both a full-length mirror and a hand-held one. If you find moles or colored spots on your skin, use the “ABCD” rules. Look for:
Asymmetry — one half is unlike the other half.
Border irregular — scalloped or poorly circumscribed border.
Color that varies from one area to another; shades of tan and brown, black or sometimes white, red or blue.
Diameter larger than the diameter of a pencil eraser.
If you find skin changes that match this description or a mole that change, itches or bleeds, consult your doctor or dermatologist. This exam should be completed once a month by those at high risk for skin cancer and once every six months for those with a low risk.
