Demystifying Skin Self-Checks
We Know We Should, But We Don’t
First the cold, hard facts (from the Skin Cancer Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, or NIH).
- More people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year in the U.S. than all other cancers combined.
- At least one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70.
- Melanoma is the least common, but most deadly form of skin cancer.
- In the past decade (2014 – 2024), the number of new invasive melanoma cases diagnosed annually increased by 32 percent.
- Men are almost twice as likely to die from melanoma than women.
- When caught early, melanoma has a 94% survival rate.
Most of us have seen or heard statistics like these before. And during the past decade, as rates of skin cancer have risen, we have received repeated warnings about the importance of sunscreen and the need for regular skin self-checks. Sunscreens have become big business, but skin self-checks, which cost nothing, have not caught on in a big way.
Of course they haven’t! According to a National Health survey, only 8% of patients who had seen either a primary care provider or obstetrician/gynecologist within the prior 12 months had received a skin examination. If we don’t get skin exams when we see healthcare professionals, we don’t have the education or motivation necessary to do it ourselves. According to the NIH, the only Americans who regularly give themselves skin checks are those who have already been diagnosed with a melanoma. And quite frankly, no one wants that kind of motivation!
Part of the problem is that skin cancer is tricky. There are several different types and they each present in a variety of ways. Even dermatologists can’t identify skin cancer by sight with 100% accuracy. That is why they err on the side of caution and biopsy many moles that turn out to be perfectly harmless.
So, what can we do to get the benefits of skin-cancer screening in a way that makes sense? Your practical and preventive game plan includes these five steps.
- Determine your personal risk. Understand the most common visual attributes of the most common and dangerous forms of skin cancer.
- Give yourself a simple, but thorough initial self-check. This is both a screening and a baseline.
- Record any questionable moles or lesions.
- See a dermatologist for a professional skin check and bring your notes.
- Determine, with your doctor, the appropriate intervals for both personal and professional skin checks.
Armed with all your new-found knowledge, stick to your determined schedule
Are You at Heightened Risk?
Skin cancer can affect anyone, but some people are at higher risk. You should plan on an annual skin cancer screening with a dermatologist if you fall into any of these high-risk categories:
- Red or blond hair, fair skin, freckles, and blue or light-colored eyes
- More than 50 moles
- Family history of melanoma
- Personal history of melanoma, basal cell, and/or squamous cell skin cancers
- History of frequent or intense sun exposure
- One or more blistering sunburns – if you’ve had four or more serious sunburns, your risk of melanoma increases significantly
What Does Skin Cancer Look Like?
The three most important types to watch out for are melanoma, basal cell, and/or squamous cell skin cancers. Melanoma is, by far, the deadliest, and generally presents with the following attributes that people remember as the A-B-C-D-E of skin cancer. The letters stand for:
- Asymmetry
- Border
- Color
- Diameter
- Evolving
Asymmetry: Do the two halves look the same?
When examining moles or spots, imagine drawing a line through the middle. Do both halves look the same? If one side is significantly different in shape or size than the other, this asymmetry is a warning sign for melanoma. Most benign (non-cancerous) moles are symmetrical, so uneven ones deserve attention.
Border: Are the edges irregular or blurred?
Healthy moles tend to have smooth, well-defined edges. If the borders are jagged, scalloped, or poorly defined—blending into the surrounding skin—this could indicate abnormal growth. Borders that appear irregular or fuzzy may be early signs of melanoma or another skin condition that requires evaluation.
Color: Does a spot have multiple or uneven colors?
Uniform color is a hallmark of benign moles. If a spot has multiple shades—such as black, brown, red, white, or even blue—or uneven distribution of color, it may signal a problem. Melanomas can have a variety of colors within a single lesion, so look for anything that stands out as unusual.
Diameter: Is the spot larger than a pencil eraser?
While not every large mole is dangerous, melanomas are often larger than 6 millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser). Keep an eye on any spot that exceeds this size, especially if it’s also showing other concerning features like irregular borders or color variation.
Evolving: Has the spot changed over time?
Perhaps the most crucial indicator, evolution refers to any noticeable changes in size, shape, color, or texture over weeks or months. Pay attention to spots that start itching, bleeding, scabbing, or crusting. Even subtle changes can be significant, so document them and bring them up with your dermatologist.
Basal cell and squamous cell lesions can be tricky because they can sometimes take on the attributes of other skin problems like scabs or pimples. This is where the self-check comes in handy. A crusty scab that appears where you were never injured, something that looks like a scratched bug bite, or a “pimple” in a non-oily area of skin, are marks worth noting.
How to Execute the Perfect 10-Minute Skin Self-Check
- Find a spot with good lighting (bathroom, sunny room, anywhere you can actually see what’s going on).
- Grab a full-length mirror and a hand mirror or a close friend/family member—for our purposes, the mirrors and the buddy provide the same service.
- Dress code? None. Yes, you’ve got to check everywhere.
- Inspect Top to Bottom (Literally)
- Scalp: Use your fingers to part your hair in sections (or ask a friend/partner if you’re feeling fancy). Look for any weird bumps, discoloration, or moles hiding under your locks.
- Face and Neck: Don’t forget behind your ears and under your chin.
- Torso: Check your chest, belly, and sides. Women be sure to check under your breasts—it’s a mole hide-and-seek hotspot.
- Back: Here’s where the hand mirror selfie combo comes into play. Use it to inspect your upper and lower back. If you’re flexible enough to do a full spin, kudos, but most of us need the mirrors.
- Legs: Inspect the front, back, and sides of your legs. Don’t skip your thighs—moles can appear even if you’re not rocking shorts often.
- Hands: Look at the tops, palms, and between your fingers. Moles love to hide in the weirdest places.
- Feet: Check the tops, toes, and bottoms of your feet. Yes, even there.
- Fingernails and Toenails: Don’t forget your nails—check under them without nail polish.
- Buttocks: Yep, it’s part of the deal. Use your mirrors or ask for backup if needed.
- Groin area: Skin cancer doesn’t discriminate by body part, so a quick check is worth it.
The Miracle of Modern Technology
Before phones with cameras, the best way to record skin check results was with little marks on front and back outlines of the human body.
Some dermatologists still use these to mark the location and size of questionable moles. If you’re feeling retro, you can find this guy almost everywhere online and print him out. But these days, the best way to keep track of your findings is to take a picture with your phone and store it labeled with the date, body location, and size. This makes it easy to track any changes during your next skin check and to share any concerning spots with your dermatologist or the providers at Amaze (you can also store these in your Amaze app).
When to See a Dermatologist?
Even if you don’t find any areas of concern, you should be checked by a dermatologist right after your first self-check. Your doctor will let you know if you have any concerning moles and will help you better understand what to look for on your body. Once you see a dermatologist, your future skin checks will be much easier and much more reliable. Armed with your newfound knowledge, you will really be able to successfully monitor any changes.
How Often Should You Repeat This Process
The official recommendation is to do a full-body self-check every month. Certainly, this is important if you are at high risk for developing skin cancer. But given our low national compliance level, you will be way ahead of the game if you do a check once a quarter to start. If you start to notice any changes, you will be highly motivated to check more regularly.
The Bottom Line
Skin cancer kills, but it is very treatable when caught early. Once you understand what skin cancer looks like, have seen a dermatologist, and have a few self-checks under your belt (is that a pun?), you will become the foremost expert on your own skin. But if something seems off, remember that you are not an expert in dermatology—so make an appointment with a real one, or send the relevant images to Amaze so one of our specialists can check it out. Those ten-minute checks are often lifesaving. Your future self will thank you!
