Spot It Early: How to Do a Skin Self-Exam at Home
Denise Moulton
About one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime — a trend partly linked to ozone depletion, which increases UV radiation. Skin cancer can affect anyone, and dermatologists recommend a monthly skin self-exam regardless of age, skin color, or gender.
How to look for skin cancer:
Grab a full-length mirror and a hand mirror, and you’ll be on your way to start your skin self-exam.
Remove your clothes and examine your skin in a full-length mirror.
Your face is the starting point; next, scan the front of your body, paying attention to your neck, chest, and abdomen. Women should lift their breasts and look under them, too.
Look at both sides of your arms, as well as your armpits, the backs of your hands, and your palms.
Check the front side of your legs from your thighs all the way down to the top of your feet. Look between your toes and the bottom of your feet.
Use a hand mirror to examine your back and buttocks. If possible, ask a friend or family member to check your scalp — otherwise, part your hair into sections with a comb to examine it yourself.
Practice your ABCDEs
To help people spot melanoma, dermatologists Darrell Rigel, MD, and Robert Friedman, MD, introduced the ABCD mnemonic in 1985. They later expanded it to ABCDE to highlight the importance of tracking changes over time.
Here are the five warning signs to look for when examining a mole:
A- Asymmetry - the mole is uneven and not perfectly round
B- Borders - The edges are irregular, jagged or blurry
C- Color - the mole has different colors and shades
D- Diameter - it is larger than 6mm - about the size of a pencil eraser
E - Evolving - It’s changing in appearance, shape, color or size
When Should You See a Doctor?
See your doctor immediately if you find a suspicious-looking skin spot. Your doctor will assess your mole and determine if it requires further investigation; they will refer you to a dermatologist who specializes in various skin conditions. Early detection of skin cancer can be life-saving.
References
https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/air-pollution/issues/ozone-layer /depletion-impacts/causes-status-recovery.html
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/sun-and-uv/skin-exams.html https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/skin-cancer/find/check-skin
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