Make a self-examination of the skin once a month using a mirror:

Your control should cover the entire body, back and forth, with particular attention to areas exposed in the sun.

How to perform a skin check?

Examine your face, especially your nose, lips, mouth and ears — front and back. Use one or both mirrors to get a clear view.

Thoroughly inspect your scalp, using a blow-dryer and mirror to expose each section to view. Get a friend or family member to help, if you can.

Check your hands carefully: palms and backs, between the fingers and under the fingernails. Continue up the wrists to examine both the front and back of your forearms.

Next, focus on the neck, chest and torso. Women should lift breasts to view the undersides.

With your back to the full-length mirror, use the hand mirror to inspect the back of your neck, shoulders, upper back and any part of the back of your upper arms you could not view in step 4.

Still using both mirrors, scan your lower back, buttocks and backs of both legs.

Sit down; prop each leg in turn on the other stool or chair. Use the hand mirror to examine the genitals. Check the front and sides of both legs, thigh to shin, ankles, tops of feet, between toes and under toenails. Examine soles of feet and heels.

SKIN LESIONS

There are 4 main types of suspicious skin lesions

Melanoma

This is the rarest form of skin cancer, but also the most dangerous. It can occur in humans at any age, unlike other species that are more common in the elderly. It appears as a stain that becomes darkly pigmented or develops with irregular edges or is repainted differently over time, or it is a pink or red lump. It can spread internally, so emergency treatment is necessary.

Basal cell carcinoma

This is the most common form of skin cancer, but also the least dangerous. It usually appears as an elevation with a shining edge similar to a pearl, a wound that does not heal, or a rough lump that slowly grows over time. If left untreated, it can ulcerate and attack deeper tissues.

Squamous cell carcinoma

This is the second most common form of skin cancer that occurs in parts most exposed to the sun, such as the face and scalp. It is a spongy lump that can grow rapidly, ulcerate and moist. It can spread rapidly, especially if it is on the lips, ears, fingers and legs, or in people with reduced immunity.

Surgical treatment for the removal of lesions is essential.

Actinic keratosis

This occurs most often in middle-aged and elderly people, in the areas most exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck, ears, back of the hands and scalp. Appears as a red-brown dry and rough skin on the skin. The lesions are pre-cancerous; 10-15% of cases may develop into squamous cell carcinoma, so they should be treated to prevent progression.