Skin cancer on top of head pictures

This article was medically reviewed by Mona Gohara, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and member of the Prevention Medical Review Board, in August 2022.

If there’s one good thing about skin cancer, it’s that you can spot it yourself—if you know what to look for. That’s why it’s so crucial to see skin cancer pictures to get a visual.

The earlier you find the signs of skin cancer, the sooner you can seek treatment. That’s incredibly important: Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, with more cases diagnosed every year than all other cancers combined.

You already know that spending too much time in the sun without applying sunscreen can boost your chances of skin cancer—but there are tons of other risk factors to keep on your radar, too. Getting just one bad sunburn, having fair skin or red hair, living at high elevations, flying frequently or driving a lot, exposure to certain chemicals, and having a family history of skin cancer can all significantly spike your risk of the disease.

However, skin cancer impacts people of all skin tones (including darker skin) and backgrounds. That’s why it’s so important to be vigilant, as the disease is very treatable if you catch it early. “The bottom line is if your skin starts forming a spot that doesn’t look like anything else and it’s not getting better, it’s growing, or it’s acting differently than your other moles, get it checked out,” says Saira J. George, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends doing a self-examination once a month. Don’t rush through this! Do it when you have time to examine your skin from head to toe. Use mirrors as necessary to check your back and other hard-to-see places or ask a partner or family member to help you.

How often should you be checking your skin for signs of skin cancer?

“On average, you should look at your moles every month to ensure they are not changing as this could be a sign of a pre-cancerous or cancerous mole,” says board-certified dermatologist Ife J. Rodney, M.D., founding director of Eternal Dermatology Aesthetics.

What should you look for during skin cancer checks?

You’ll want to use the ABCDE method for checking your moles, per the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD):

• A is for asymmetry. “The mole has an uneven shape and you can’t fold it in half, so to speak,” Dr. Rodney says.
• B is for borders. The borders of the mole are not well defined and have irregular or scalloped edges.C is for color. If the mole is red, brown, white, or just has uneven color, it should be a concern.
• D is for diameter. Melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, is usually greater than 6 millimeters, although they can be smaller.
• E is for evolving. If the mole is changing in size, shape, or color, you’ll want to get it checked out. “These are just guidelines and each area should not be looked at in isolation,” Dr. Rodney says. “Evolving moles are the most important as this is a clear sign something is wrong.”

What tools can help with skin checks?

There are a few different things that can help you with skin checks, per Dr. Rodney:

A full length mirror. This “is a useful tool to help you identify moles that you might not have noticed before,” Dr. Rodney says.

A hand mirror. This can help you get a closer look at the mole, as well as view areas like your back or butt. “Sit to check the back of the legs, calf, and underneath your feet with the mirror,” Dr. Rodney says.

Your phone. If you have a spot that looks concerning or you’re unsure, Dr. Rodney recommends taking a picture to keep track of it and see if it’s evolving.

When to see your doctor for skin checks

It’s a good idea to see your doctor for skin checks at least once a year, Dr. Rodney says. “Your doctor will look in areas you may not, like your scalp and nails,” she says. “They also use tools like a dermatoscope to give them a closer look at the mole so they can find specific features they were trained to detect.” Mole changes “are hard to detect with the untrained eye and no one will be better at detecting these changes than your dermatologist,” Dr. Rodney says. She adds, “they can also take a sample of the mole—a biopsy—to look under a microscope to get a final diagnosis.”

“Skin cancer is one of the most treatable cancers there is, but can be one of the most dangerous as people often don’t detect them until it’s too late,” Dr. Rodney says. “Regular skin checks with the doctor may be life-saving.”But, of course, it’s important for you to be doing skin checks in between annual visits with your doctor.

What exactly should you be looking for? The following pictures show what different types of skin cancer look like, as well as how to differentiate between them. Warning: They’re a bit graphic—but knowing how to spot a dangerous mole or lesion could save your life.

What does skin cancer look like on the scalp?

What does skin cancer look like on the skull?

What does melanoma on your scalp look like?

Can you get skin cancer on the top of your head?