How do I check my skin for cancer at home?

A skin self-exam takes a few minutes and costs nothing. All you need is a bit of light and two mirrors.

The American Cancer Society lists what you need for a thorough skin self-exam at home: a well-lit room, a full-length mirror, and a hand-held mirror to look at areas that are hard to see. It adds that a good time to check your own skin can be after a bath or shower.

Setting up a room with two mirrors

You do not need special tools. Use the items from the list above and set them up in a room where you can undress and see yourself clearly.

This site writes for Madera and the rest of the county, and Madera Acres and Fairmead have their own place pages, but the setup is the same anywhere. Your bathroom or bedroom works if the light is good.

Checking head to feet in the same order

Go in the same order each time so no area gets skipped. Start with your face and scalp, then your arms and hands, then your torso, then your legs and feet. Use the hand-held mirror for your back and any other spot you cannot see directly.

Take a phone photo of any spot that catches your eye. A photo from this month gives you something to compare with next month, and it costs nothing.

Spots that bleed, itch or change

A new spot, or an old one that changes, is worth showing to a clinician. So is a spot that bleeds, itches or does not heal. The American Academy of Dermatology describes melanoma signs and symptoms on its site, and it is worth reading so you know what a clinician looks for.

A home check does not replace a professional exam. The Skin Cancer Foundation has a page on annual skin exams that explains why a clinician's exam is a separate step.

How often to repeat the self-exam

Once you have done one self-exam, you will probably wonder how often to repeat it and when to book a professional exam. The two pages linked above are good places to read next.