Start skin self-exams in your 20s
“I thought nothing could touch me,” says melanoma survivor Leah Adams. “I was invincible.”
That’s how Leah felt before a mole on her chest was diagnosed as melanoma when she was just 26 years old. She’d had the mole her entire life; it wasn’t until her dad was diagnosed with early-stage melanoma and her mole started changing that she saw a board-certified dermatologist to have it looked at.
Leah Adams was diagnosed with melanoma in her 20s.
Before her melanoma diagnosis, Leah spent much of her time tanning, whether in indoor tanning beds or lying out in the sun, without sun protection. Sometimes, she tanned indoors every day.
“Looking back, I didn’t understand that I should have been taking care of my skin, since it’s our largest organ. I thought melanoma was a cancer only older people got,” notes Leah. Her friends agreed — they thought skin cancer was no big deal.
Leah needed surgery to remove her melanoma and a sentinel lymph node biopsy, which tested whether the cancer had spread. Her dad’s melanoma eventually spread to his brain and became very serious.
Leah’s melanoma, before her diagnosis (left) and after surgery to remove it (right).
Leah is now cancer-free, and her dad’s melanoma is stable, with no active disease. However, she wishes she could tell her pre-melanoma diagnosis self to protect her skin. “We only get one body in this life,” adds Leah. “Melanoma completely changed our lives.”
What’s my skin cancer risk in my 20s?
Skin cancer can affect anyone, regardless of your age, skin tone, or gender.
Several factors increase your risk of skin cancer, including melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. Some include:
Light skin tone, hair, or eyes
A large number of moles
Spending a lot of time in the sun without sun protection
Using indoor tanning beds
Having a personal or family history of skin cancer
You can check out the full list of Skin cancer types: Melanoma causes.
"I had been that girl who kept a tan throughout the year, but after my surgery, I decided I would not lie out in the sun or use tanning beds again," says Leah.
She adds, “So many people younger than me, or my age, are no longer here,” referring to those who have died from melanoma.
How can I identify skin cancer?
As you’re getting to know yourself in your 20s, dermatologists say you should also get to know your skin — and all your moles, freckles, and spots — so you can check yourself for skin cancer. Stay on top of your spots by performing regular skin self-exams.
About half of melanomas are self-detected. Leah’s mom was the first one to point out the suspicious spots on both Leah and her dad.
No matter your age, you should look for the same signs of skin cancer on your skin: the ABCDEs of melanoma.
A is for Asymmetry. One half of the spot is unlike the other half.
B is for Border. The spot has an irregular, scalloped, or poorly defined border.
C is for Color. The spot has varying colors from one area to the next, such as shades of tan, brown or black, or areas of white, red, or blue.
D is for Diameter. While melanomas are usually greater than 6 millimeters, or about the size of a pencil eraser, when diagnosed, they can be smaller.
E is for Evolving. The spot looks different from the rest or is changing in size, shape, or color.
During your skin self-exam, you’ll examine your skin with the help of a mirror. Although the most common locations for melanoma may differ depending on your age and skin tone, it’s important to examine your entire body.
Dermatologists say following these steps can help you catch skin cancer early, when it’s most treatable:
Examine your body in a full-length mirror
Look at your underarms, forearms, and palms
Look at your legs, between toes, and the soles of your feet
Use a hand mirror to examine your neck and scalp
Use a hand mirror to check your back and buttocks
You can find more detailed tips for checking your skin, pictures of the ABCDEs of melanoma, and a printable body mole map to track your spots at the below links:
Take note of all the spots on your body — from moles to freckles to age spots — during a skin self-exam.
Can I reduce my risk of skin cancer?
Practicing safe sun is the best way to reduce your risk of skin cancer, along with sunburn and premature signs of skin aging.
“Sun safety doesn’t have to be rocket science,” notes Leah.
To protect your skin from the sun:
Seek shade. The sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. If your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade.
Wear sun-protective clothing, including a lightweight and long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses with UV protection, when possible. For more effective protection, select clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor (or UPF) number on the label.
Apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to all skin not covered by clothing. Reapply every 2 hours, or after swimming or sweating.
Do not tan — indoors or out. If you want to look tan, consider using a self-tanning product, but continue to use sunscreen with it.
“As a runner, I had to adjust how running outside looked for me,” says Leah. “Now, I wear sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. I also run when the sun’s rays are weaker or find a route with more shade.”
I noticed a spot on my skin — what should I do?
If you notice any spots that are changing, itching, or bleeding, make an appointment to see a board-certified dermatologist. Your dermatologist will take a closer look and perform a skin biopsy, if necessary. The spot may be harmless, skin cancer, or a sign of another skin condition. No matter what the diagnosis, your dermatologist knows the best treatment for you.
To partner with a board-certified dermatologist in your area, go to Find a Dermatologist.
Images
Images 1-3: Courtesy of Leah Adams
Image 4: American Academy of Dermatology Public Education Asset Library
References
Del Fiore, P, et al. Melanoma in Adolescents and Young Adults: Evaluation of the Characteristics, Treatment Strategies, and Prognostic Factors in a Monocentric Retrospective Study. Frontiers in Oncology 2021;11.
Lashway, S, et al. Age and Cohort Trends of Malignant Melanoma in the United States. Cancers 2021;13, 3866.
Written by:
Brooke Schleehauf
Reviewed by:
Nkanyezi Ferguson, MD, FAAD
Nathaniel J. Jellinek, MD, FAAD, FACMS
Ata Moshiri, MD, MPH, FAAD
Last updated: 5/23/25