Health Tip: Check Your Skin for Signs of Cancer

Suggestions for performing a self-exam

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(HealthDay News) -- Regular self-exams of the skin can help you spot the beginning signs of skin cancer, allowing you to start treatment while the cancer is in its early stage.

The American Academy of Dermatology says you should look for any changes in your skin, particularly a growth that changes in size or appearance. You should also look for any mole, birthmark or spot that appears irregular, changes color or size, or hurts or bleeds.

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Here are the academy's suggestions for performing a skin self-exam:

• Looking in a mirror, inspect the front and back of your body, then lift your arms and inspect your sides.
• Bend your elbows and examine the entire length of both arms, hands and palms.
• Inspect the fronts and backs of your legs, tops and bottoms of your feet and between your toes.
• Using a hand mirror, look at the back of your neck and your scalp. Move your hair to inspect the scalp.
• Use the hand mirror to also check your back and buttocks.

-- Diana Kohnle