Skin Self Exam

University of California, San Francisco

About UCSF

Search UCSF

UCSF Medical Center

School of Medicine>Department of Dermatology > Skin Cancer

1701 Divisadero St.,
3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA
94143-0316

Skin Cancer

Skin Cancer Guide

Transplant Patient Guide

Caring for Transplant Patients

Seminars

Organ Transplant Immunosuppressed High Risk Skin Cancer Clinic

Tumor Board

Mohs Surgery

Contact and Referrals

Research and Clinical Trials

Dermatology Faculty

Detection: Skin Self Exam

Skin Care Tip

Monthly examination of your skin can help detect early skin cancers

Skin cancers detected early have a higher chance for successful treatment.

How to Examine Your Skin

It's important to check your own skin, preferably once a month. Self-examination is best done in a well-lit room in front of a full-length mirror. A hand-held mirror can be used for areas that are hard to see. A spouse or close friend or family member may be able to help you with these exams, especially for those hard-to-see areas like the lower back or the back of your thighs.

The first time you inspect your skin, spend a fair amount of time carefully going over the entire surface of your skin. Learn the pattern of moles, blemishes, freckles, and other marks on your skin so that you will notice any changes. Any trouble spots should be seen by a doctor. Follow these step-by-step instructions to perform your skin self-exam:

Face the mirror and have a hand mirror for your thighs,
back, and scalp:

self exam

Check your face, ears, neck, chest, and belly. Women will need to lift breasts to check the skin underneath.

Check both sides of your arms, the tops and palms of your hands, and your fingernails. Sitting down, first check one leg, then the other. Inspect the bottoms of feet, calves, and the backs of thighs.

self exam

Use a hand mirror to inspect back of neck, shoulders and upper arms. Use a hand mirror to inspect back, buttocks and legs.