Check your skin

Checking your skin (self-examination)

Check your skin regularly. We suggest checking every 1-3 months so it becomes a regular habit.

Talk to your doctor about how often they recommend you check your skin, as this may depend on your age, skin type or whether you have previously had skin cancer.

Look over your entire body. Skin cancers can occur in places you cannot easily see yourself. Ask someone to help check:

• armpits

• behind the ears

• scalp

• bottom

• soles of the feet

• fingernails and toenails

If you don't have someone to help, use a hand mirror to check difficult-to-see areas.

Keep track of how spots and moles look so you know if they have changed since you last checked your skin.

Further information about checking your skin:

Visit ScanYourSkin, by the Skin Cancer College Australasia, to learn more about checking your skin for the most common types of skin cancer, including melanoma, BCC and SCC.

Visit Melanoma New Zealand for further information on checking for melanoma.

Download Tirohia tō kiri / Check your skin.

Learn more about skin cancer:

Check out  SunSmart  for more information about skin cancer.

Learn more  at DermNet NZ  or Cancer Council Australia.