May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and while we’re all about taking daily precautions to prevent skin cancer in the first place, skin checks are a non-negotiable when it comes to maintaining overall health. So, without further ado, let’s get into the who, what, when, where, why, and how of conducting a thorough skin self-exam.
Who Should Check Their Skin
Everyone has skin, so everyone should be checking theirs to make sure it remains healthy and cancer-free. Adults with fair skin, family history of skin cancer, or previous skin cancer diagnoses themselves should be especially vigilant. Similarly, anyone who is immunocompromised, prone to sunburn, covered in existing skin spots (like moles and freckles), and/or regularly exposed to the sun should prioritize skin self-checks as well.
What to Look for During a Skin Self-Exam
Since skin cancer can show up in varying shapes and sizes for everyone, it can be difficult to spot. This makes regular self-exams especially important so you can pinpoint what is new, changing, or unusual. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, these are the three key words to early detection. If you find any of the following while checking your skin, schedule an appointment with your doctor for professional help:
-
NEW spots, moles, or blemishes, particularly those that appear after age 21
-
CHANGES in spot color, shape, size, or texture
-
UNUSUAL spots with outlines, strange shapes, or any that itch, hurt, bleed, or crust
TIP: Familiarize yourself with the ABCDEs of melanoma (asymmetry, borders, color, diameter, evolving). You can learn all about each here.
When to Examine Your Skin
While it’s always a healthy habit to be aware of what’s on your skin and body, more thorough monthly self-exams are recommended to begin at age 20. With it, you’ll want to start scheduling yearly appointments with a dermatologist to ensure nothing gets overlooked.
Why Skin Self-Exams Are Crucial
The American Academy of Dermatology Association reports that skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, with an estimated 1 in 5 Americans developing skin cancer in their lifetimes. Though these statistics are intimidating, the good news is, skin cancer can be highly curable with early detection. Long story short? The “why” for conducting skin self-exams is to catch and treat it as early as can be.
How to Properly Examine Your Skin
Self-exams are best conducted after a bath or shower to ensure your skin is clean and, therefore, no dirt, debris, or residue can be mistaken for “something.” From there, you’ll need a well-lit room, hand-held mirror, and full-length mirror to begin.
-
Take your time to examine every surface and crevice of your body, even if it’s not typically exposed to the sun. This includes but is not limited to, your scalp, behind your ears, the back of your neck, your underarms, under your breasts, your private area and buttocks, behind your knees, your palms, and the soles of your feet.
-
Document your findings in a journal, Notes app, or even your phone’s photos. This will help to ensure you can remember whether a spot is new or if there are changes to existing spots in the months to come.
-
Should everything look fine, relax and repeat next month. If you notice anything suspicious, though, contact your doctor to schedule an appointment, then monitor and document the spot until your visit.
For the most thorough self-exam, follow the step-by-step instructions outlined in detail by the American Cancer Society.
Caring for Your Skin Between Checks
We all know wearing sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, and other forms of protective clothing daily is essential to preventing sun damage. But did you know your non-SPF skincare matters for this as well? After all, your skin is your body’s first line of defense against the outside world. For this reason, maintaining its integrity with a healthy skin barrier is crucial to protecting you from harmful environmental factors like the sun’s UV rays. That’s why simple, replenishing products that are easy on your moisture barrier are non-negotiable.
It’s one of the many benefits of our transformative four-step regimen. Each of our formulas features gentle exfoliation to eliminate pollution, dirt, and debris plus powerful hydration to replenish essential moisture. It’s an award-winning combination for supporting your skin’s natural barrier to help maximize the protective power of your SPF.
