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Melanoma: Screening and Early Detection

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Risk Management & Treatment > Screening and Risk Reduction > By Cancer Type > Melanoma > Screening

Overview Melanoma: Screening and Early Detection Melanoma: Risk Reduction

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Screening for Melanoma

The following types of screening may be recommended for people at high risk for melanoma:

Skin self exams involve a person checking their own skin on a monthly basis to look for changes or abnormalities. Experts recommend training high risk people to perform exams.
Watch moles closely for any signs of change in shape, size, or color.
Dermatologists may take pictures of the skin and moles, known as mole mapping, or full body photography.
Dermatologists examination of moles with a hand-held device known as a dermatoscope.
Ophthalmologic examinations to check for melanoma in the eye.

What are the signs of melanoma?

One way to remember the signs of melanoma are to pay attention to and report to your doctor any moles that follow the ABCDE rule:

Asymmetry
Borders that are irregular
multiple Colors
Diameter of over 6 millimeter
Evolving or changing in size, shape or color

In the News

Study : Skin cancer among women with an inherited BRCA mutation

Signs of Melanoma

Screening for high-risk people

Gene	Recommendation
BAP1	Beginning at age 16, annual eye exam. Some experts recommend self-exams to look for skin changes. For people who choose to perform self exams, have your doctor show you what to look for. Have a friend or family member help with hard to see areas of the body and watch moles closely for any signs of change in shape, size, or color. Beginning at age 18, annual dermatologist exam taking pictures of the skin and moles, known as mole mapping, or full body photography. Any suspicious moles or other skin changes should be removed by a doctor so the tissue can be analyzed under a microscope.
CDKN2A CDK4	Perform monthly self-exams to look for skin changes. Have a friend or family member help with hard to see areas of the body. Watch moles closely for any signs of change in shape, size, or color. Beginning at age 10, annual exam with dermatologist. This may include mole-mapping (full-body photography) and examination with a dermatoscope.
PTEN	Schedule an annual exam with a dermatologist.
BRCA1 BRCA2	Although no specific guidelines exist for melanoma screening for people with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, general risk management such as an annual full-body skin and eye exam and minimizing UV exposure are considered appropriate.
Source: Lalloo, F., Kulkarni, A., Chau, C. et al. Clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and surveillance of BAP1 tumour predisposition syndrome. Eur J Hum Genet 31, 1261–1269 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41431-023-01448-z; Source: NCCN Guidelines: Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast, Ovarian, Pancreatic, vs. 2 2025.