Skin Cancer Awareness: How to Spot It Early and Protect Your Skin

Early detection saves lives. Here’s what to look for, when to check, and how to reduce your risk.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S., and most are basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas, which are highly treatable if detected early.¹ Melanoma is less common but can be much more serious. However, if detected early and treated properly, the 5-year survival rate approaches 95%.²

Here’s what to look for, when to check, and how to reduce your risk of skin cancer and pre-cancers.

Make screening a priority if you have these risk factors³

• Excessive UV exposure - Frequent time in the sun without protection, use of tanning beds, or history of blistering sunburns.
• Skin that burns easily, or naturally blonde or red hair
• Family history of melanoma - Having a parent, sibling, or child with melanoma increases your risk.
• Personal history of skin cancer - If you’ve had melanoma or other types of skin cancer, you’re at higher risk for recurrence.
• Atypical or numerous skin moles

How to perform a self-skin exam⁴

Regular self-checks are one of the most effective ways to identify skin cancer early.

 What to do:

• Use a full-length mirror and a hand mirror in a well-lit room.
• Check your entire body: front, back, sides, scalp, between fingers and toes, and under nails.
• Use a comb to part your hair and examine your scalp thoroughly.

What to look for:

• A changing mole or spot, especially one that is new, irregular in shape, or multicolored.
• A bump or growth that itches, bleeds, or crusts over.
• Any lumps in your neck, underarms, or groin.

Use the ABCDE rule for what to watch for:⁵

• (A)symmetry: Two halves that don’t match
• (B)order: An uneven border
• (C)olor: Multiple shades of tan, brown, or black; or unusual colors such as red, purple, or blue
• (D)iameter: A diameter longer than 6 mm (about the size of a pencil eraser)
• (E)volution: A different size, shape, or color over time

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If you notice anything unusual, see a doctor, such as a skin specialist or dermatologist, as soon as possible.

Most skin cancers can be prevented

You can significantly lower your risk by practicing smart sun safety:

• Seek the shade. Avoid excessive sun exposure, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Use broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, even on cloudy days. Reapply it frequently.
• Wear sun-protective clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, and UV-blocking sunglasses and lip balm.
• Avoid tanning beds.

Stay aware, stay protected

Skin cancer is highly preventable and curable when caught early. Regular skin checks, sun protection, and awareness of your personal risk factors can make all the difference.

References

¹ Key Statistics for Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancers. American Cancer Society. At: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/basal-and-squamous-cell-skin-cancer/about/key-statistics.html

² SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Melanoma of the Skin. National Cancer Institute. At: https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/melan.html

³ Cancer Facts & Figures 2025. American Cancer Society. At: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2025/2025-cancer-facts-and-figures-acs.pdf

⁴ How to do a skin self-exam. American Cancer Society. At: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/sun-and-uv/skin-exams.html

⁵ Abbasi NR, Shaw HM, Rigel DS, et al. Early diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma: revisiting the ABCD criteria. JAMA 2004;292:2771