Checking your skin and nails

As well as helping you to monitor your own skin for any changes, our leaflet gives you some key signs to look out for and an easy means of recording what you see.

By making regular observations you can help catch changes  early.

Skin check example
Download our skin check leaflet

How do I check my moles?

Melanoma Focus recommends:

  • Creating a Mole Map and regularly checking your skin
  • Using a mirror, ruler, camera, notepad and if necessary a ‘skin buddy’ for those hard-to-see areas
  • Check your skin all over once a month and note the date
  • Use templates from our skin check leaflet to record the location, appearance and dimensions of each mole or skin lesion (patch, spot, lump or any other abnormal area of skin)
  • Take photos of your moles and any new marks or lesions
  • Don’t forget under the arms, breasts, between fingers and toes, soles of your feet, palms of your hands, behind the ears and your scalp

For more information, we recommend this video on how to examine your skin

The ABCDE’F’ checklist

This is a useful checklist when looking at your skin. If any of your moles or lesions show the following – make an appointment to see your GP:

  • Asymmetry: two halves differ in shape

  • Border: edges irregular or jagged
  • Colour: uneven/patchy; shades of black, white, grey, brown or pink; two or more colours = suspicious
  • Diameter: for most melanomas, at least 6mm
  • Evolving: changing in size, shape or colour
  • ‘Funny’: if it looks odd, or you aren’t happy about it for any reason

While checklists are relevant for the most common form of melanoma, they are not completely reliable as melanoma can vary and may not show these features. Here are key signs to look our for:

  • Changed – it is new or seems to have changed since you last saw it (don’t look for detail; you can see it has changed just by glancing at the lesion, that’s enough)

  • Not going away – once a new lesion has appeared, it remains on the skin for longer than 6-8 weeks

  • Odd (the most crucial test) – it simply looks strange, worries you or seems to be different from other lesions on your skin, then you should get it looked at by a doctor, who may refer you to a specialist – usually a dermatologist

For more information, we also recommend this video, on the ABCDE skin check method

Remember, if in doubt, check it out!

If you would like to receive copies of our skin check leaflet for your clinic or an event, please contact:

info@melanomafocus.org

Skin check and molemapping services

Conducting your monthly skin check is crucial for detecting early signs of melanoma. We understand that for some individuals investing in private skin check and mole mapping services can provide valuable peace of mind and reduce anxiety. This can especially be the case for people with a family history of melanoma or with numerous moles.

Private dermatologists across the UK offer these services, but it is essential to research reputable clinicians thoroughly and make sure that they have the relevant qualifications and experience and if they take a biopsy of any suspicious area, they will send this off to a laboratory for review. Your surgery or dermatology team may be able to provide further advice.

We recognise that annual private skin checks or mole mapping may not be an option for everyone. We therefore want to emphasise that it is recommended to monitor your own skin, looking for any changes OR a mole or lesion that doesn’t look like other moles or lesions on your body OR a new mole or lesion. If you have any concerns, your first step should always be to contact your GP who may ask you to send in a picture via a secure messaging system (if you have had a previous melanoma and you are having regular follow-up appointments, contact your dermatology team, rather than going back to your GP).

It’s important to note that some employers include skin checks in their health insurance plans, so it may be worth exploring this option.

https://www.themoleclinic.co.uk/

https://www.sknclinics.co.uk/treatments-and-pricing/mole-mapping

https://www.nuffieldhealth.com/tests-scans/mole-assessment