A step-by-step guide to checking your own skin

Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, and checking your own skin regularly is one of the simplest ways to catch changes early, when they are most treatable. A monthly self-check takes only a few minutes once you know what to look for.

How often to check

Aim for once a month. Checking regularly means you get to know what is normal for you, which makes it far easier to notice when something changes. Pick an easy date to remember, such as the first of the month.

The method

Do your check in a well-lit room with a full-length mirror, and use a hand mirror or ask a partner for the areas you cannot see easily.

1. Face, ears, neck and scalp, parting your hair to see the skin beneath.
2. Front and back of the torso, and both sides.
3. Arms, including the undersides, and both hands, including between the fingers and under the nails.
4. Legs, the tops of the feet, between the toes and the soles.
5. The back and buttocks, using the hand mirror or a partner's help.

What to look for

The ABCDE guide is an easy way to remember the warning signs in a mole or spot:

• Asymmetry, where one half does not match the other.
• Border that is irregular, ragged or blurred.
• Colour that is uneven or has several shades.
• Diameter larger than about six millimetres.
• Evolving, meaning any change in size, shape, colour or sensation.

Any spot that is new, changing, bleeding or simply looks different from your others is worth having checked, even if it does not tick every box.

When to book

Self-checks are a helpful habit, not a replacement for professional assessment. If you notice anything that concerns you, or if you have not had a professional skin check recently, book one. Early detection saves lives, and a check is quick and straightforward.

Our team can carry out a thorough skin check and advise on how often you should return based on your individual risk.