Perform a Skin Cancer Check
Skin cancer is prevalent in the United States, with more than one million new cases diagnosed each year. While fair-skinned people are more likely to get skin cancer, people of all skin tones are at risk for the disease. The best prevention is protection from the sun so regularly wear sunscreen and protective clothing. You should also perform a skin cancer check on your entire body once a month. Read on to learn perform a skin cancer check.
Instructions
1. Know what you are looking for. In addition to new and changing moles, you should look for any sore that hasn't completely healed, waxy-looking skin, translucent growths and raised, depressed or flat lesions. In addition, you should look for any brown or black marks that appear underneath fingernails or toenails. It's helpful to view photos of skin cancers so you can become familiar with how they appear.
2. Remove all your clothing so you can fully examine your entire body.
3. Stand in front of a full-length mirror so you will be able to examine your back and other areas that are hard to see.
4. Start with your face and look for any new moles, marks or blemishes. You should also look for any changes in existing moles. Make sure to examine your lips, ears and the areas behind your ears. Use the flashlight to check the inside of your mouth, including your tongue and gums.
5. Continue down your body, examining your chest, shoulders and stomach. Check the area around your nipples and underneath your breasts for any unusual marks.
6. Examine your arms and hands closely. Look between your fingers, at your fingernails, and around the entire expanse of your arms.
7. Check your pelvis, thighs, knees, calves, ankles and feet. Use a hand-held mirror to inspect your genital area for any moles or other marks.
8. Turn so your back faces the full-length mirror and start at the top of your body, checking for any new or changed marks. Employ the use of the hand-held mirror when necessary.
9. Lift your hair and check the back of your neck. Continue down your body, check your shoulders, back, buttocks and the backs of your thighs, knees, calves and ankles. Spread your buttocks to check the skin between them. Spread your toes and inspect the areas between them as well as your toenails. Inspect the bottom of your feet.
10. Enlist a friend to check your scalp for any moles. He should part your hair in various places and look for any marks.
Tags: check your, skin cancer, your body, between them, calves ankles
