Skin Self-Exam at Home [Step-by-Step Guide]
A skin self-exam is a systematic head-to-toe check of every mole and spot, done in good light with a full-length and a hand mirror. Use the ABCDE signs (asymmetry, border, color, diameter, evolving) to judge spots, and photograph anything you want to watch at the same zoom and distance so you can see change over time. Anything new, changing, or unusual goes to a doctor.
To do a skin self-exam, undress fully in bright, even light once a month and check your whole body in the same order every time, using a full-length mirror and a hand mirror for the back. Judge each mole with the ABCDE signs, look for any spot that stands out from the rest, and photograph the ones you want to watch at the same zoom, with a coin or ruler beside them. The photos answer the question a memory cannot: whether a mole has changed since last month.
What you need
- A well-lit room, ideally with daylight or a bright white lamp.
- A full-length mirror and a hand mirror.
- A comb or hair dryer for parting hair on the scalp.
- Your phone, for magnified viewing and photos.
- Optionally, a partner to check your back and scalp.
Pick a regular interval. Once a month is a common recommendation from dermatology organizations and is easy to remember. Undress fully, since spots can appear on skin that never sees sun.
The routine, in order
Work from the top down in the same order each time so you do not skip areas.
- Face and head. Nose, lips, ears (front, back, and the rim), eyelids. Use the hand mirror for the sides and behind the ears.
- Scalp. Part hair in sections with a comb or blow it aside with a dryer. A partner makes this much easier.
- Neck, chest, and torso. Lift breasts or skin folds to check underneath.
- Arms. Both sides, armpits, elbows, forearms, wrists.
- Hands. Palms, backs, between the fingers, and under the fingernails.
- Back and buttocks. Stand with your back to the full-length mirror and use the hand mirror, or ask for help.
- Legs. Front, back, inner thighs, and the genital area.
- Feet. Tops, soles, between the toes, and under the toenails.
The ABCDE signs
Dermatologists teach the ABCDE framework for evaluating moles and spots. It is a screening tool, not a diagnosis, but it tells you what to pay attention to.
| Letter | Stands for | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| A | Asymmetry | One half does not match the other in shape |
| B | Border | Edges that are ragged, notched, blurred, or uneven |
| C | Color | More than one shade, or patches of brown, black, red, white, or blue |
| D | Diameter | Larger than about 6 mm (a pencil eraser), or growing |
| E | Evolving | Any change in size, shape, color, height, or new symptoms like itching or bleeding |
Dermatologists add two more points. First, the "ugly duckling": a spot that looks different from all your other moles deserves attention even if it does not clearly fail any ABCDE test. Second, not all skin cancers are dark moles. A pearly bump, a sore that does not heal, a scaly patch, or a pink spot that persists are also reasons to be seen.
Using magnification
Several of the ABCDE features are hard to judge at normal viewing distance: whether a border is smooth or slightly notched, whether a brown mole has a faint darker area inside it, whether the surface has become slightly raised. At 3x to 5x they are much easier to see.
Hold your phone 10 to 15 cm from the skin with a magnifier app open and zoom to around 3x to 5x. Above that you lose the overall shape, which you need to judge asymmetry. Use even light. In LoupeLens you can dim the flashlight by pressing and holding its button and sliding, so the skin does not throw back a bright highlight that hides color detail.
For your own face, neck, and chest, switch to the front camera. In LoupeLens the screen turns white around the preview and acts as a soft light, so you can see spots on your face without a mirror and without casting a shadow with the phone itself. Related practical detail is in the skin check use case.
Photographing spots so you can see change
The E in ABCDE, evolving, is the hardest sign to judge from memory and one of the most important. Photos taken the same way each month give you a reference.
- Photograph each spot you want to watch at the same zoom level each time, such as 3x.
- Place a coin or a small ruler next to it for scale. Without a reference, zoom differences can make a stable mole look bigger or smaller.
- Use the same light. Daylight near a window is the most repeatable.
- Also take one wider photo showing where on the body the spot is, so you can find it again.
- Keep the photos together. Captures from LoupeLens go to a dedicated album in Photos, which makes month-to-month comparison simple.
When you compare, look for the same ABCDE features. If a border that was smooth now has a notch, or a uniform brown spot has developed a darker patch, that is a change worth showing a doctor, and the before and after photos show the doctor exactly what changed.
Who should be especially careful
Anyone can develop skin cancer, but some people have a higher baseline risk: fair skin that burns easily, a history of sunburns or tanning bed use, many moles or unusual moles, a personal or family history of skin cancer, or a weakened immune system. If that describes you, regular professional skin checks are worth discussing with a doctor in addition to self-exams.
People with darker skin develop skin cancer less often but are more likely to have it found late, partly because it can appear in less-expected places such as the palms, soles, and under the nails. Check those areas deliberately.
When to see a doctor
Make an appointment for any spot that is new and looks different from your others, any spot that is changing, any sore that does not heal within a few weeks, and anything that bleeds, itches persistently, or becomes painful. A family doctor can assess most spots and refer you to a dermatologist when needed. Bring your photos.
A self-exam finds changes; it does not diagnose them. This article is general information and not medical advice. If you have any concern about a spot on your skin, see a healthcare professional.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I do a skin self-exam?
Once a month is a common recommendation and is easy to keep up. Do it the same way each time, head to toe in good light, so you cover every area and notice changes from the previous check.
What does the ABCDE rule stand for?
Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter over about 6 mm or growing, and Evolving, meaning any change over time. A spot that shows one or more of these, or that simply looks different from all your other moles, should be checked by a doctor.
How do I check my own back and scalp?
Stand with your back to a full-length mirror and use a hand mirror to see the reflection, or use your phone's camera held behind you. For the scalp, part the hair in sections with a comb or blow it aside with a hair dryer. A partner makes both much easier.
Can a phone magnifier diagnose skin cancer?
No. It helps you see borders, color variation, and surface texture more clearly, and it lets you photograph spots so changes are visible over time. Only a doctor or dermatologist can diagnose a spot, often with a biopsy.
How should I photograph moles to track changes?
Use the same zoom level and the same lighting each time, place a coin or ruler beside the spot for scale, and take one wider shot so you can find the spot again. Compare monthly and bring the photos to your doctor if anything changes.