How to Check for Skin Cancer

Though nobody likes to think about the possibility of getting skin cancer, the fact remains that prevention is the best cure. It's a good idea to get in a regular habit of checking yourself, your spouse, and kids for signs of skin cancer.

Once you get used to doing it, it shouldn't take more than 10 minutes- and that's very little time for greater peace of mind.

The Skin Cancer Foundation suggests that everyone follow these set of steps to check for skin cancer:

• Be sure to examine yourself and your family in a well lit room.
• Look for any darker patches of skin, new moles, or ones that have changed shape, and look for any new growths on the skin.
• Examine your head and scalp using a mirror or some help from another adult. Move your hair out of the way and check your scalp thoroughly.
• Check your hands, fingers, and fingernails. Use a full length mirror to examine your elbows, underarms, forearms and biceps.
• Be sure to examine on and around the chest, neck, shoulders, back, and abdomen.
• Don't forget to check the tops (and bottoms!) of your feet and toes, too.

Pay special attention to the creases in your body- at your inner elbow, behind your knee, etc. as these can hide a dark patch or skin growth more easily.