Mole Checks For Skin Cancer
Performing regular skin checks on yourself is a good habit that will help you detect skin cancer signs and consult a skin doctor to have it treated early. This guide will walk you all the way through a thorough check to ensure you cover all the bases for a decent mole check. If you notice anything you are worried about, you can book an appointment with our doctors to have a more in-depth look to see if it needs to be removed.
Prepare for your mole check, what you will need:
What to look out for during your mole check:
BLEEDING OR CRUSTING – Mole or other skin marks that oozes, bleeds or becomes crusty.
TENDER – A mole that is painful to the touch or just generally sore or tender.
NOT HEALING – Sore or ulcerated area that doesn’t heal within two weeks
BORDERS – Mole or sore with irregular borders
Step-by-step approach to your mole check
1: STRIP OFF
Remove all your clothing and face the mirror to have a clear view of all your body. Proceed by areas. First, look at the front, back, and sides of your legs.
2: CHECK
Check new spots and the state of every mark on your skin. Look at your hands, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
3: SIT
Sit down and examine your feet, checking the soles and between the toes.
4: MIRROR
Help yourself with the hand mirror. Check your scalp using a comb or a hairdryer. Then check your back.
5: DON’T MISS BITS
Then your front side, chest, stomach and neck. Raise your arms and check your sides too. Arms and shoulders tend to be the most sun-exposed areas.
Record your mole check
Keep a record of your skin checks by taking pictures or noting down in a notebook to compare between times the number and shape of your skin marks.
If you take pictures of a specific mole, take both close-ups and distance images so that you can accurately identify where it is next time. On the close-up photo have a tape measure or small coin next to the mole for scale reference.
