It is recommended that everyone perform a full body examination once a month to note any new or changing lesions in the skin. Being aware of these changes may help you to find and diagnose cancerous or precancerous lesions.

The following guide can also be found on the Skin Cancer Foundation's official website.

Start by becoming familiar with your birthmarks, moles, and any other skin mark already on your skin.

Use ABCDE to remember what to look for:

Asymmetry: The shape of one half does not match the other half.

Border that is Irregular: The edges are often ragged, blurred, or notched in outline. The pigment may spread into the surrounding skin.

Color that is Uneven: Shades of black, brown, or tan may be present. Areas of white, gray, red, pink, or blue may also be seen.

Diameter:There is a change in size, usually an increase. Melanomas can be tiny but most are larger than the size of a pea.(>6mm or 1/4in)

Evolving: The mole has changed since your last exam.

Examine your face, ears, neck, and scalp. You may want to use a comb or a hair dryer to thoroughly check your scalp.

Check your hands, palms and backs, in between fingers and under the fingernails. Continue up your wrists to examine front and back of your forearms.

Standing in front of a full length mirror, begin at the elbows and scan the upper arms. Examine the underarms as well.

Look at the front and back of your body. Raise your arms and examine the left and right sides.

With your back to the mirror, use a hand mirror to examine the neck and upper back. Check the backs of the upper arms.

Using both mirrors, scan the lower back, buttocks, and backs of both legs.

Sitting down, prop one leg up at a time and examine genitals with hand mirror. Check front and sides of both legs, feet, toes and toenails.

You have completed your exam. Record any unsual findings and exam again in one month.

Provide your email address in the box below and send your results.

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