Help find melanoma early 

Read the signs
on your skin

Know your skin well

Having an intimate relationship with your skin will make you more likely to notice any abnormal changes. Sometimes it might be difficult to see these changes on your skin, so get a friend, a loved one, or a mirror to help you with the hard-to-see places.

Check your skin
every month

Practice SkintimacyTM by doing skin checks using the ABCDEs of melanoma

A skin check can help you find changes on your skin that could be a sign of melanoma. Melanoma can appear as: 

  • A mole that looks very different from your other moles
  • A new mole that wasn’t there before
  • An existing mole that changed in colour or shape

How to do a skin
check at home

Get started on your mole mapping journey with a few items found at home  

Grab a ruler to measure the size of your mole, and a mirror to help you look at the hard-to-see-places.  

Now let’s get started! 

Learn the ABCDEs
of melanoma

A mole may be melanoma if it has any of these signs.

Write down any new changes to your skin and talk to your doctor. 

Test your knowledge

Play the check a mole game

Asymmetry

The shape of one half of the mole appears different than the other

Borders 

The edges of the mole are irregular, blurred, or ragged 

Colour

It’s unusual in colour, with different shades of tan, brown, black, or sometimes with blue, gray, red, pink, or white

Diameter

A mole that is greater than 6 mm from edge to edge 

Evolution 

A mole that changed over time or may be itchy, scaly, or bleeding

Protect your skin from UV overexposure

Protect your skin from the damage due to UV radiation to help lower your chance of getting melanoma.

  • Limit the time you’re in the sun during peak hours (11 AM -3 PM between March to October)
  • Cover your skin and wear UV-protective clothes, including broad-brimmed hats
  • Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 50+ and re-apply every 2 hours
  • Avoid tanning beds and sun lamps
  • Check your skin every month
  • Go to yearly skin check-ups with your doctor

Talk to your loved ones about melanoma

In a 2020 survey,* only about half (51%) of adult Canadians said they were knowledgeable about melanoma. And 55% of people did not know, or incorrectly identified, that small amounts of sun exposure without protection can lead to melanoma. To change this, we need to have conversations with our loved ones about the causes and risk factors of melanoma. The more you know, the better you can help protect yourself and your loved ones.  

Disclaimers and References: 

Photographs of skin used throughout the site do not depict melanoma. Speak to a healthcare practitioner if you are concerned about any of your moles.

* The survey was conducted by Leger et al, in March 2020 in collaboration with Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. and Save Your Skin Foundation.

  1. Canadian Dermatology Association. Melanoma. Available at: https://dermatology.ca/public-patients/skin/melanoma/. Last accessed May 2, 2024.
  2. Melanoma Canada. Available at: https://melanomacanada.ca/. Last accessed May 2, 2024.
  3. Canadian Cancer Society. Enjoy the sun safely. Available at: https://cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/reduce-your-risk/be-sun-safe/enjoy-the-sun-safely. Last accessed May 2, 2024.
  4. Canadian Cancer Society. Skin exam. Available at: https://cancer.ca/en/treatments/tests-and-procedures/skin-exam. Last accessed May 2, 2024. 
  5. Save Your Skin Foundation. We need to step up our knowledge about melanoma. Available at: https://sauvetapeau.ca/download/https-saveyourskin-ca-wp-content-uploads-survey-results-highlights_sysf-website_may-27-2020_final-en-pdf/. Last accessed May 2, 2024.
  6. Melanoma Canada. Find a dermatologist. Available at: https://melanomacanada.ca/find-a-dermatologist-canada/. Last accessed May 2, 2024.