Keep Your Eyes Open for Any Change
Once a Month Self-Checks
Doing self-checks for skin cancer should be regular. "Either before or after the shower, and ideally once a month," says Dr. Tanzi. "By doing it frequently, it is easier to tell if something has changed.
Enlist Your Spouse
It's easy to see the front half of the body, but let's face it: There's a lot of skin you can't easily catch sight of. "Many of the melanomas on my patients were discovered by their significant other," Dr. Kidner says. "My mentor always advised his patients to get their significant others completely naked once a month and to map out and monitor any moles or skin lesions that had changes in their appearance."
Look at: Asymmetry
When you're looking for changes or abnormalities in your skin, remember the A, B, C, D, E's, says Dr. Kidner. "'A' stands for 'asymmetrical,'" he says. "Does the mole have an irregular shape with two parts that look very different?"
Look at: Borders
Dr. Kidner says that, next, the "B" stands for "border." Trace the outline of the mole or freckle with your eyes. "Is the border irregular or jagged?" says Dr. Kidner. If so, call a derm.
Look at: Color
"C" is for 'color.' "Is the color uneven?" says Dr. Kidner. Most normal moles and spots are the same color — whether dark, brown or something else — throughout. Skin cancer usually isn't so uniform.
Look at: Diameter
"D" is for 'diameter.' "Is the mole or spot larger than the size of a pea?" Dr. Kidner says. Most freckles and moles are rather small. Something larger than an eraser head needs to be brought to a derm's attention.
