Monthly Skin Self-Exam: A Step-by-Step Guide

A well-lit room, a full-length mirror, a hand mirror, and your phone camera for documentation. If possible, ask a partner to help examine hard-to-see areas like your back and scalp.

Face and scalp: Examine your face, ears, and neck in the mirror. Part your hair in sections to check your entire scalp - use a blow dryer to move hair aside. Check behind both ears.

Upper body: Raise your arms and examine both sides of your torso. Check your underarms, both sides of your arms, tops and palms of your hands, and between your fingers. Check your fingernails for dark streaks.

Lower body: Sit down and examine the front and sides of both legs. Check the tops of your feet, between your toes, and toenails. Use a hand mirror to check the soles of your feet.

Back: Use the hand mirror against the full-length mirror to examine your back, buttocks, and the backs of your legs. Or ask a partner.

Any new mole or growth that was not there before. Any existing mole that has changed in size, shape, or color. Any spot that looks different from all your other spots (the ugly duckling sign). Any sore that does not heal within 3 weeks. Any spot that itches, bleeds, crusts, or scabs repeatedly.

See a dermatologist if you find any changing mole, any new mole after age 30 (new moles become less common with age, so new ones deserve attention), any sore that will not heal, or anything that concerns you. Do not wait to see if it 'gets better on its own' - early detection of skin cancer saves lives.