Your skin is your body’s largest and most visible organ, and it’s constantly working hard to protect you from the elements. But just like any other part of you, it needs regular checkups to stay healthy. That’s where the skin care self-exam comes in.
Why Do a Skin Self-Exam?
Early detection is critical to managing any skin condition, and skin self-exams are a simple and effective way to catch any changes in your skin early on. This is especially important for skin cancer, the most common type of cancer in the United States.
What You’ll Need
Good lighting: Natural light or a brightly lit room is ideal.
Full-length mirror: This will help you see all areas of your body.
Handheld mirror: This helps check hard-to-see areas like your back and scalp.
A pen or marker: You can use this to mark any spots you want to keep an eye on.
Step-by-Step Guide to a Skin Self-Exams
Get comfortable: Find a quiet place to relax and take your time.
Start at the top: Begin with your scalp, parting your hair to check for any lumps, bumps, or changes in colour.
Face and neck: Examine your face, ears, neck, and hairline for any new moles, freckles, or changes in size, shape, or colour of existing ones.
Front of your body: Check your chest, abdomen, and breasts (women should lift their breasts to see underneath). Look for any redness, itching, or dimpling.
Arms and hands: Examine both sides of your arms, including underarms, elbows, wrists, palms, and fingers (including under your nails).
Legs and feet: Check both sides of your legs, including thighs, calves, ankles, and feet (including soles and between toes).
What to Look For
Changes in moles: Look for any moles that have changed in size, shape, or colour, have become irregular or have bleeding or crusting.
New growths: Look for new growths, especially those changing quickly.
Redness, itching, or scaling can be signs of infection or other skin conditions.
Open sores that don’t heal: Any sore that doesn’t heal within a few weeks should be checked by a doctor.
When to See a Doctor
If you notice any changes in your skin that you’re concerned about, make an appointment to see your doctor. Don’t hesitate to get it checked out, even if you’re not sure if it’s anything serious.
Tips for a Thorough Skin Self-Exam:
Do your exam monthly, especially if you have a family history of skin cancer.
If you have concerns, take your next exam to see a doctor.
Recognize changes in your skin and get to know it.
Take photos of your skin over time to track any changes.
Following these tips, you can perform a thorough skincare self-exam and be your best skin detective. Early detection is critical to managing skin conditions, so be proactive and take charge of your skin health!