Full body check
Are you getting a full body check from your dermatologist each year?
It’s a good idea. You can’t see every place you need to check for changes in your skin – changes that could be early signs of melanoma.
But you’re not off the hook. Once a month, get naked in front of a full-length mirror. Check everyplace you can see, and don’t forget oddball places – like under your fingernails, your scalp, behind your ears, between your toes, and on your genitals. Yes, you can get melanoma even where the sun doesn’t shine.
Things to look for:
- a mole that changes size, shape, or color
- a spot that crusts or scabs
- a pimple-like lesion that won’t heal
- a scaly, rough patch
If caught early, melanoma can be easy to manage. Don’t let it get past that point.
