There are plenty of appointments people remember to make before December 31, from annual physicals and dental cleanings to eye exams. A skin check deserves a place on that list, too. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and a professional skin examination at RefinedMD can identify suspicious spots in places you may never think to look, or simply cannot see yourself.
The end of the year offers a useful reminder to ask when your skin was last professionally examined and how frequently you should be checked based on your individual risk. If the answer is “I can’t remember,” now is a good time to have that conversation with a dermatologist.
Skin Cancer Is More Than Melanoma
Melanoma receives considerable attention because it can be particularly dangerous, but it is only one type of skin cancer. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the two other major forms, and skin cancer can present in ways that do not necessarily resemble the dark, irregular mole many people have learned to associate with melanoma.
The American Academy of Dermatology updated its skin cancer guidance in July 2026, noting that warning signs can include a growing or bleeding spot, rough or scaly patch, shiny bump, firm growth, or sore that heals and then returns. A persistent spot that looks like a pimple or insect bite can also warrant attention. In other words, do not limit your vigilance to moles.
Know Your ABCDEs
Moles remain important, however, and the ABCDE method provides a useful framework for watching them. A stands for asymmetry, B for an irregular border, C for variations in color, D for diameter, and E for evolving. That final letter is especially important because a spot that begins changing in size, shape, or color deserves professional attention.
Diameter is not an absolute rule. Although melanoma is often associated with spots larger than six millimeters, the American Academy of Dermatology emphasizes that melanomas can be smaller. A new spot, a mole that looks different from your others, or something that changes, itches, or bleeds should be evaluated rather than dismissed because it fails to fit every letter perfectly.
Your Self Check Has Limits
Checking your own skin regularly is worthwhile, but new research demonstrates why it should not be treated as a diagnosis. An August 2026 study in the Journal of Cancer Education compared lesions identified by 191 high-risk surfers and outdoor swimmers with the findings of clinician-performed full-body examinations and subsequent pathology.
Self-examination missed 38.5 percent of melanomas, 31 percent of basal cell carcinomas, and 41.2 percent of squamous cell carcinomas in situ found in the study. Researchers concluded that self-checks can increase awareness and encourage people to seek care, but clinician-performed full-body examinations remain important for high-risk populations. The findings are a powerful reminder that simply seeing your own skin is not the same as knowing what you are seeing.
Some Spots Are Almost Impossible to See Yourself
Think about the last time you carefully examined your entire scalp. How about the skin behind your ears, between your toes, across your back, or underneath your nails? Skin cancer can develop virtually anywhere, including areas that receive little obvious sun exposure.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that self-exams include the scalp, back, palms, soles, and spaces between the toes. People with skin of color should also be aware that melanoma may appear in areas such as the palms and soles or underneath a nail. A professional full-body examination provides another set of trained eyes for areas that are difficult to monitor alone.
How Often Do You Need a Professional Exam
There is no universal screening interval that is right for every adult. The CDC notes that the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force currently considers the evidence insufficient to recommend for or against routine clinician skin cancer screening for asymptomatic people. That is different from saying skin checks are unnecessary.
Your dermatologist can recommend an appropriate schedule based on factors such as previous skin cancer, family history, atypical moles, age, immune status, skin type, and history of significant sun exposure or sunburns. RefinedMD emphasizes annual skin exams while also recognizing that some patients benefit from more frequent monitoring. Dr. Steven Swengel is a board-certified dermatologist specializing in skin cancer detection and Mohs micrographic surgery.
Do Not Wait for Your Scheduled Check
A calendar should never stop you from having a suspicious change evaluated. If you notice a spot that is new, evolving, bleeding, repeatedly crusting, failing to heal, or simply looks noticeably different from everything surrounding it, contact a dermatologist rather than waiting months for your next routine examination.
Early detection matters. According to 2026 data from the American Academy of Dermatology, the five-year survival rate for melanoma detected and treated before it spreads to the lymph nodes is approximately 99 percent. Once melanoma has spread to distant parts of the body, that figure drops dramatically. Finding concerning changes early can make an enormous difference.
Make Skin Health Part of Your Year End Routine
Skin care is about more than serums, lasers, injectables, and maintaining a youthful complexion. Knowing what is happening on the skin itself is a fundamental part of caring for it. Keep performing self-checks between appointments, continue wearing broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher throughout the year, and learn what is normal for your own skin so changes are easier to recognize.
Before another year disappears from the calendar, take a moment to determine when you last had your skin professionally examined and when you should be seen again. If you are due for an exam, have risk factors, or have noticed a suspicious change, schedule a skin check with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Steven Swengel at RefinedMD and make skin health one of the things you take care of before the year ends.