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.

Skin Self-Exam at Home [Step-by-Step Guide]

You have a mole on your shoulder that you think might be darker than it used to be, but you are not sure, because you never really looked at it before. This is exactly the gap a skin self-exam fills. Done regularly and the same way each time, it turns a vague sense that something may have changed into a clear answer.

This guide lays out a practical routine, the warning signs doctors use, and a simple method for photographing spots so that change becomes obvious rather than a matter of memory.

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

Doing it in the same order each time means you do not miss areas. Work from the top down.

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

Two additional points doctors emphasize. 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 subtle 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 these become clear.

Hold your phone 10 to 15 cm from the skin with a magnifier app open and zoom to around 3x to 5x. Higher than that and you lose the overall shape, which matters for asymmetry. Use even light: in LoupeLens, the flashlight can be dimmed by pressing and holding and swiping, which stops the skin from reflecting a harsh 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

Memory is poor at this. The E in ABCDE, evolving, is the hardest sign to judge without a reference, and it is one of the most important. Photos solve the problem if you take them consistently.

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 two photos make the conversation much more productive.

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.

Self-exams are a habit, not a diagnosis. Their job is to make sure that when something changes, you notice, and you go. This article is general information and not medical advice. If you have any concern about a spot on your skin, see a healthcare professional.