Skin Screening Self-Examination
Some 51,000 Americans get melanoma each year. Early
detection through regular skin exams can greatly reduce the number of deaths from melanoma.
Here is how to do a skin self-exam:
- Check yourself after a shower in a well-lighted room, use a full-length
mirror and a hand-held mirror.
- Start by checking the moles and birthmarks that you've had since birth. Look
for any changes, especially a new mole or skin discoloration; a sore that does
not heal; or any change in the size, shape, texture, or color of an existing
mole.
- Look at the front and back of your body in the mirror. Then raise your arms
and look at your left and right sides.
- Bend your elbows and look carefully at your fingernails, palms, forearms, and
upper arms.
- Examine the back, front, and sides of your legs. Look between your buttocks
and around your genital area.
- Sit and closely examine your feet, including the toenails, soles, and the
space between your toes.
- Look at your face, neck, ears, and scalp. Use a comb or hair dryer to move
your hair so that you can see better. Better yet, get someone else to check your
scalp for you.
If you find anything suspicious, visit a dermatologist right away.
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