Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK, but have you ever checked your skin for signs of it? Would you even know what you are looking for? Here’s what you need to know…
After a summer of (hopefully) sunny escapes – and dreams of winter sun to come – the biggest concern you might have about your skin right now is how to keep your newly glowing tan for as long as possible. But, whether you remember burning or not on your latest holiday, you’re probably at greater risk of skin cancer than you might think.
According to Cancer Research UK, there will be as many as 26,500 new cases of melanoma every year in the UK by 2040. And, most tragically of all, around 86 per cent of them will be preventable. All because, too often, we ignore and overlook slightly odd-looking moles and new lesions in the haste of our busy lives, or consider the UK not warm enough to cause an issue.
But, before we cover up more with our favourite cosy jumpers and jeans, it’s important to be able to spot the potential signs of skin cancer from head-to-toe and get any advice and treatment you need before melanoma can cause further harm.
Here’s our expert guide on how to check for skin cancer, including the signs to look out for and services, such as in-clinic mole mapping, which can help you monitor moles with confidence.
Why should you check for skin cancer?
Skin cancer is both common and frequently overlooked – a worrying combination, because melanoma is incredibly treatable when caught early… but can be deadly if treatment is left too late. That means early detection, when melanomas are small and have not spread, can vastly increase your chances of easy, complication-free removal, and, however morbid it seems, increase your survival from a skin cancer diagnosis.
It’s also important to note here that all skin tones can get skin cancer. It may be more common in Caucasian skin, but it can actually be harder to spot in Black skin (leading, on average, to higher morality rates). That means checking your skin frequently and thoroughly – regardless of the last time you may have got sunburn – is really important to keep everyone, whatever your background, protected.
Where to check for skin cancer?
Sun-exposed areas like the face and back of the shoulders can be particularly common locations for skin cancer to arise, alongside the legs for women and the stomach for men. But keep in mind, that melanomas can arise anywhere on the skin, even in areas where the sun doesn’t normally reach. That’s why it is so important to do a full body check regularly, from head-to-toe. This should include more concealed areas such as your scalp, hands and feet to ensure there aren’t any unusual moles or marks that need assessing.
How to avoid skin cancer
Before we move onto how to check your skin, it’s important to remember that the best defence against skin cancer is prevention. Being sun safe really is the best way to avoid melanoma. In fact, according to Melanoma Focus, having five or more sunburns in your lifetime doubles your risk of getting melanoma skin cancer and even one blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles your chances of developing melanoma later in life.
In simple terms, that means using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 daily and reapplying it regularly, especially when you are active or swimming. You should also avoid sun exposure when UV rays are at their strongest, particularly either side of midday, and you should seek shade or wear protective clothing like a hat, sunglasses and t-shirt to make sure you don’t burn. Weather apps now often include the UV index of the place you have travelled too, alongside the actual temperature, so be especially carefully when the UV index reaches three or above.
Sun beds have also been linked to an increased risk of skin cancer, even if you try to cover moles, ‘only go once a year’, or have heard of their ‘wellness benefits’. Trust us, it is never worth it, so avoid tanning beds at all times – however much you want a pre-holiday glow.
How to check for skin cancer?
Most moles and pigmentation on your skin are harmless, but you do want to look out for anything new, changing or unusual during a monthly skin check. Our advice: at the start of each month (as well as after your summer holiday) do a quick skin scan in the mirror, as you dry off post-shower. This way, it can fit more or less seamlessly into your routine.
To do this: use a mirror in a well-lit room and examine your entire body, including hard-to-see areas like the back, scalp, soles of feet, and between fingers and toes. If necessary, asked a loved-one to help you – and you can do the same in return. Children are much less at risk of skin cancer, but it is always worthwhile checking their skin every so often, so you and they get familiar with their moles. It’s never too early to teach them how to look after their own skin.
The ABCDEs
The best way to self-examine for skin cancer is to remember your ABCDEs – aka the simple guide to what you are looking for when examining spots and moles:
Asymmetry
Unlike moles, melanomas tend to be asymmetrical, which presents as one half not matching the other. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends imagining you are drawing a line through the middle of the lesion. Then, notice whether it differs from the round or oval, symmetrical shape of a common mole.
Border
Are the edges of the mole irregular, ragged or blurred? Melanoma borders tend to be more uneven than regular moles or even notched at the edges.
Colour
Multiple colours within a single mole are a key warning sign for melanoma. Watch out for a growing mole that contains different shades of brown, tan or black. Shades of red, white or even blue may also be present.
Diameter
The larger the mole, the more of a concern it may be. Look out for ones that are larger than 6mm in diameter (about the size of a pencil eraser) and ones that are growing.
Evolving
New moles and those that are changing in size, shape or colour need to be investigated. Symptoms like itching or bleeding are also signs that should not be ignored.
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FAQs
What should I do if I’m concerned?
If you spot something that doesn’t look quite right, firstly don’t panic. Equally, avoid brushing it away as ‘probably nothing’. Instead, circle and take photos of anything that is concerning you, so you can easily identify them in the future. Then, you want to show them to an expert for further analysis.
The simplest step is to book in for an appointment with your regular GP who can look at your area of concern and refer you to a specialist if necessary. Or, you can go straight to see a dermatologist or a skin expert at a skin cancer clinic for mole mapping and screening (this can be a quicker process but comes with a cost). A practitioner may then perform a biopsy – taking a small sample of skin for lab analysis – so they can identify if there’s anything to be concerned about.
This might sound scary, but it is much more important to know what you might be dealing with. As mentioned, if it does turn out to be melanoma, quick diagnosis and treatment can ensure you don’t have to undergo more gruelling cancer treatment due to it spreading, or side effects such as scarring when the melanoma is removed.
What is a mole mapping experience like?
Mole mapping is a process that gives you a detailed record of the moles on your body, and you can consider it like a yearly MOT for your skin, regardless of whether you are concerned about a particular mole or not. The process is traditionally done visually by a dermatologist who uses a dermascope (like a mini magnifier) to analyse your skin from head-to-toe, and it is highly recommended for anyone who has a greater risk of skin cancer, such as those with a family history or previous bad sunburns.
There are now AI-aided camera-based techniques that can log your moles in even more detail too, so you can pick up on any changes at your yearly appointment sooner than ever before. Our beauty director booked in for such an appointment at the London-based dermatology centre, Montrose Clinic. You can read about her full mole mapping experience here to see exactly why she strongly recommends it.
Further resources:
The NHS Melanoma Skin Cancer page.
Mole Checking at the Cadogan Clinic, London.
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