Skin Self Examination - When, How and What to look For

A regular self skin examination helps in detecting probable skin problems early in its onset. In case of skin cancers, the earlier it is diagnosed, the better chance it stands for getting cured.

Skin cancer are less common among Blacks and Asians and more common among the white population. In United states, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer and the two most common types of skin cancer are called basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. These of diagnosed early are highly curable. Another skin cancer called melanoma is the third type of cancer and the most dangerous.

When to perform the skin self-exam?

If you are white or from an anglo-saxon race you should perform skin self examination regularly. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and The National Cancer Institute (NCI) recommend that people should perform a “skin self-exam” at least once a month.

The most convenient time to do the exam can be just after the bath, before getting dressed. Women can perform their skin self-exam while doing their monthly breast self-exam. For men, while performing their monthly testicular self-exam, they can have a look at themselves to figure.

Quiz on Skin

Health Animation - Breast Self Examination

Ideally, the room should be well lit and have a full-length mirror so that the front and the back of the entire body can be seen properly. If necessary you can ask regular living in your partner to also do this observation.

While performing the exam, notice:-

New skin markings (bumps, moles, colorations, blemishes)

Moles that have changed recently in size, color, texture, or shape

Lesions or moles that continue to bleed or does not heal

Moles with any uneven edges, lack of symmetry, or differences in color

Translucent growth with rolled edges

Brown/black streaks underneath a nail

Cluster of shiny pink or red lesions

Waxy scar

Flat or slightly depressed lesion that feels hard to touch

A spot or sore that continues to itch, crust, hurt, scab, erode, or bleed

Look for ABCDE:-

Consult a dermatologist immediately if any of the moles or pigmented spots exhibit:-

A: Asymmetry - One half is unlike the other half

B: Border - An irregular and poorly defined border

C: Color - Varies from one part of the lesion to other

D: Diameter - If it has a diameter of 6mm or more

E: Evolving - A mole or lesion which looks different from the rest or is changing in size, color, or shape.

Examine your skin in the following way:-

Look closely at the entire body (front and back) in the mirror.

Check under arms and both sides of each arm.

Examine the forearms after bending your arms at the elbows. Then look at the palms of hands and underneath upper arms.

Look at the front and back of both legs.

Look at buttocks and between the buttocks.

Examine genital area.

Look at face, neck, and scalp.

Look at soles and the space between toes.

It is best to use a hand mirror as well to look at the back of neck and other hidden areas.