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Self Examination
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After showering, check yourself in a well-lighted room using a full-length mirror and a hand-held mirror.
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Start by checking moles and birthmarks you've had since birth. Look for 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.
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Look at the front and back of your body in the mirror. Then raise your arms and look at your left and right sides.
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Bend your elbows and look carefully at your fingernails, palms, forearms, and upper arms.
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Examine the back, front and sides of your legs. Look between the buttocks and around the genital area.
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Sit and closely examine your feet, including the toenails, soles, and spaces between the toes.
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Look at your face, neck, ears, and scalp. Use a comb or hair dryer to move your hair so that you can see better. Or get someone else to check your scalp for you.
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If you find anything suspicious, visit a dermatologist right away and ask for a full-body exam.
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Source: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
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