Time spent soaking up summer sun is one of the things that makes the season so appealing. However, as good as warm summer sun can feel, sun overexposure can be dangerous. The World Cancer Research Fund reported more than 330,000 new cases of skin cancer diagnosed globally in 2022. A significant percentage of skin cancer cases can be prevented by skin care self-examinations. Self-exams do not take up much time, and individuals can speak with their physicians about how frequently they should check their skin for signs of skin cancer.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine (USNLM) offers the following instructions for how to conduct a skin self-exam.

Choose the right time to examine your skin.

The USNLM recommends conducting a skin exam after bathing. Women who routinely conduct breast self-exams can check their skin at this time as well.

Use a full-length mirror.

It’s not always easy to examine skin throughout the body. But signs of skin problems can occur anywhere on the body, including areas that might be hard to see without help. If possible, conduct a self-exam of the skin in front of a full-length mirror in a brightly lit room.

Identify what you’re looking for.

The USNLM suggests looking for any new skin markings, including bumps, moles, blemishes, and changes in skin color and changes to preexisting moles to see if they have changed in size, texture, color, and shape. The USNLM characterizes certain moles as “ugly duckling moles” that look and feel different from nearby moles which may be indicative of skin cancer. Speak with a dermatologist if a self-exam uncovers the presence of moles with uneven edges or differences in colors or asymmetric shapes. Moles that look different from one side to the other should be brought to the attention of a dermatologist. Moles that do not stop bleeding or will not heal also merit examination by a skin care professional.

When the time comes to conduct the exam, the USNLM recommends following these
tips:

  • Look closely at your entire body, front and back, in the mirror.
  • Check under arms and both sides of each arm, including backs of upper arms.
  • Bend your arms at the elbow, and examine both sides of your forearm.
  • Examine the tops and palms of your hands.
  • Examine the front and back of both legs.
  • Examine your buttocks and between your buttocks.
  • Examine your genital area.
  • Examine your face, neck, the 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.
  • Examine your feet, including the soles and the spaces between your toes.
  • Ask a person you trust to help examine hard-to-see areas.

Skin cancer poses a formidable threat, but many cases of the disease are preventable. Routine skin self-exams are a vital component of skin cancer prevention.