If you've never had skin cancer and don't have many moles or other risk factors, you don't need a yearly dermatologist skin check. Check your own skin regularly instead, and book an appointment promptly for any new, changing, itching, or bleeding spot. If you've had skin cancer before, have lots of moles, or have a weakened immune system, you'll need regular professional exams on a schedule your dermatologist sets.
The reason there's no blanket "once a year" rule: the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force looked at full-body skin exams by clinicians for people without symptoms and found the evidence insufficient to recommend for or against them. That conclusion is narrower than it sounds. It doesn't apply to anyone with a personal or family history of skin cancer, and it doesn't apply to a spot that's already changing. Those are no longer screening questions.
Skin check frequency by risk#
| Your situation |
What to do |
| No history of skin cancer, few moles, no other risk factors |
Self-checks; mention any concerns at your routine checkup |
| Several risk factors from the list below |
Ask a dermatologist for a baseline exam and how often to come back |
| Previous melanoma or other skin cancer |
Follow your dermatologist's follow-up schedule exactly |
| Organ or bone marrow transplant, or immune-suppressing medication |
Regular dermatology follow-up, as your care team sets |
| A new, changing, bleeding, itchy, or non-healing spot |
Book an appointment now, whatever your last exam date |
Follow-up intervals after skin cancer vary a lot, from every few months to once a year, depending on the type of cancer, how advanced it was, and how long ago it was treated. Go with the interval your dermatologist gives you, because it's based on your own pathology results.
Are you at higher risk?#
The American Academy of Dermatology lists these melanoma risk factors:
- more than 50 moles, large moles, or atypical (unusual-looking) moles
- a previous melanoma or other skin cancer
- a family history of melanoma
- skin that burns easily, red or blonde hair, or blue or green eyes
- a history of a lot of sun exposure or indoor tanning
- a weakened immune system, or a past blood or marrow transplant
- other previous cancers, including childhood cancers
One or two of these doesn't automatically mean you need yearly dermatology visits. Several together, or any personal history of skin cancer, is a good reason to get a baseline full-body exam and ask how often to return.
Darker skin isn't a free pass. The AAD notes that people with darker skin tones do get skin cancer, it's often more advanced by the time it's found, and it tends to show up in places that see little sun: the palms, soles, between the toes, and under the nails.
How to check your own skin#
You'll need a full-length mirror, a hand mirror, and good light. The AAD's self-exam steps:
- Look at the front and back of your body in the full-length mirror, then each side with your arms raised.
- Bend your elbows and check your forearms, underarms, palms, and fingernails.
- Check the backs of your legs and feet, the spaces between your toes, your toenails, and the soles of your feet. Take off nail polish first.
- Use the hand mirror to check the back of your neck and your scalp. Part your hair in sections so you can see the skin.
- Use the hand mirror for your back and buttocks, or ask a partner to look.
The AAD doesn't set a frequency. Monthly is a reasonable habit for most people: often enough to notice change, not so often that you stop seeing the difference. The point is to learn what's normal for your skin, so a new arrival stands out.
What to look for: the ABCDEs#
The AAD's ABCDEs of melanoma:
- A for asymmetry: one half doesn't match the other
- B for border: edges that are irregular, ragged, or blurred
- C for color: several shades within one spot, such as tan, brown, black, red, white, or blue
- D for diameter: melanomas are usually bigger than 6 millimeters, about the size of a pencil eraser, though they can be smaller
- E for evolving: the spot looks different from your other moles, or is changing in size, shape, or color
Dermatologists also talk about the "ugly duckling": the one mole that doesn't look like the rest of yours. Not all skin cancers are dark, either. A pink, shiny bump, a scaly patch that keeps coming back, or a sore that bleeds and never fully heals is worth showing a dermatologist too.
Taking photos helps. Use the same lighting and distance each time, put a ruler or coin next to the spot for scale, and take one wider shot that shows where it is on your body. Skin-checking apps can be a useful way to store those photos, but don't trust an app's verdict on whether a spot is safe.
What happens at a skin check#
You'll undress down to underwear (or completely, if you're comfortable) and put on a gown. The dermatologist looks at your skin from scalp to soles, often with a handheld magnifier called a dermatoscope. You can ask for a chaperone, and you can ask them to skip areas, though skin cancer does turn up in places that never see sun.
Before you go, take off nail polish, note any spots that worry you, and bring the dates of previous biopsies or skin cancer treatment. If they remove or biopsy something, ask when the results will come back and who'll contact you. Put that date in your calendar, and if you haven't heard back by then, call.
Lowering your risk between checks#
The AAD's prevention advice is straightforward: seek shade in the middle of the day, wear clothing that covers you, plus a wide-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses, use a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, and reapply every two hours outdoors and after swimming or sweating. Skip tanning beds entirely.
Sunscreen loses strength after its expiration date, so check the bottle in your beach bag. Our guide to sunscreen expiration explains how long it lasts. If you're also clearing out other products, the same goes for the rest of your skincare shelf.
A monthly reminder in ChoreLists.com is an easy way to keep self-checks from drifting. Keep any photos in a private folder, not a shared household list, and bring the folder to your next appointment.