#Abcd method skin#

Sit down to check the backs of your legs and feet, the spaces between your toes, and soles.

Bend your elbows to check your underarms, forearms, and palms.

Turn and lift your arms to check the sides.

Examine the front and back of your body in a full-length mirror.

#Abcd method skin#

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) suggests these steps to performing a skin self-exam: You can also look for the “ugly duckling.” Moles in a group typically look similar, but melanomas generally stand out from the crowd by size, shape, or color. For every spot you find, think about asymmetry, border, color, diameter, and evolution. Here’s what you need to examine your skin:Īs you examine your skin, remember the ABCDE rule for skin cancer. The most common sign of skin cancer is a change to your skin like an evolving mole, a sore that doesn’t heal, or a new growth. Research shows that regular, yearly skin exams during doctor visits along with regular skin self-examinations can decrease the depth of melanomas at diagnosis. Benign (noncancerous) spots and moles don’t usually change. Spots due to melanoma may grow or change color or shape. It may be a warning sign if it’s larger than 1/4 inch across (6 millimeters), which is about the size of a pencil eraser.Īlso note if the spot is evolving. The diameter of the spot or mole is also important. They’re often diagnosed late because of this. They don’t change melanin, so they’re the same color as your skin.

They can even include areas of white, red, or blue.Īmelanotic melanomas are harder to detect. It can be several shades of the same color or made up of several colors, including tan, brown, or black.

A cancerous spot may not be the same color all over. A typical mole tends to be evenly colored, usually a single shade of brown. A typical spot or mole is likely to have well-defined borders. The border of a cancerous spot or mole may be irregular or blurred, or it may be pink or red in color. Noncancerous moles are typically symmetrical.ī is for border. One half of a cancerous spot or mole may not match the other if you were to split the mole in half. The ABCDE rule tells you what to look for when examining your skin.