07/31/2026
UV Safety awareness month is designated to highlight the dangers of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. It also promotes daily sun-protection practices to prevent skin cancer, early aging, and eye damage.
Like self breast exams are important for early diagnosis, so can checking your skin. It is recommended to check your skin once a month, especially for those who have a high family history of skin cancer, have already had skin cancer, those who have lots of moles or skin spots, and those who have a weakened immunity.
To do a self exam you will need a well-lit room, full length mirror, hand mirror, and a partner/friend to check the hard to see places. Take the time to get to know your moles, skin spots, and blemishes in order to notice if there are any changes. Skin cancers are found mainly on parts of the body that tend to get more sun, such as the face, head, neck, and arms. But skin cancers can occur anywhere on the body.
Self Exam Steps:
1. Face the mirror and check your ears, neck, face, belly, and chest; ladies will need to check under the breasts.
2. Check both sides of the arm, the underarm areas, the palms and tops of the hands, in between the fingers, and under your nails.
3. Sit down and check under the toenails, between the toes, the tops of the feet, the shins and the thighs.
4. Using a hand mirror look at the bottom of the feet, calves, and the back of the thighs; do one leg at a time.
5. Also using the hand mirror check your ge***al area, buttocks, lower back, upper back, the back of the neck, and the ears. You can also use the hand held mirror to look into the full length mirror at your back side.
6. Using a comb or hair dryer, check the scalp.
What to look for:
-new, expanding, or changing growth, spot, or bump on the skin
-sore that bleeds and/or doesn’t heal after several weeks
-rough or scaly red patch, which may crust or bleed
-wart-like growth
- a mole (or other spot on the skin) that’s new or changing in size, shape, or color
-moles with an odd shape, irregular borders, or areas of different colors
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/sun-and-uv/skin-exams.html