Skin cancer screening
There is no screening age for skin cancer. The USPSTF found the evidence insufficient to recommend for or against a routine full-body skin check by a clinician for people without symptoms (an I statement). It is not a recommendation either way. (USPSTF, 2023)
- USPSTF grade
- I (insufficient evidence)
- Who
- Adolescents and adults without symptoms
- Ages
- None set
- How often
- None set
What an I statement means
The USPSTF uses grade I when "the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms." (USPSTF grade definitions) For skin cancer, it reached that conclusion in 2023 for a visual skin exam by a clinician in adolescents and adults, the same conclusion as in 2016. It asks clinicians to use their judgment about whether to screen. (USPSTF, 2023)
That is why this site's screening planner does not list it: the planner shows grade A and B screenings only. See Method.
Who the statement does not cover
- People with a personal or family history of skin cancer. (USPSTF, 2023)
- People with symptoms, such as moles or skin growths that change in size, shape or color. (USPSTF, 2023)
If either applies to you, the "no set age" answer is not for you. Ask your doctor or a dermatologist how often to have your skin checked.
Higher-risk traits the USPSTF lists
Fair skin that sunburns easily, light-colored eyes, red or blond hair, many moles, atypical moles, and a personal or family history of skin cancer. In Black people, the most common type of melanoma appears mostly on skin that gets little sun, such as the palms, the soles of the feet, or under the nails. (USPSTF, 2023)
Checking your own skin
The American Academy of Dermatology encourages regular self-checks, because skin cancer found early is highly treatable. Its steps: (AAD)
- Look at your body front and back in a full-length mirror, then each side with your arms raised.
- Bend your elbows and check your forearms, underarms, fingernails and palms.
- Check the backs of your legs and feet, between your toes, your toenails and the soles of your feet.
- With a hand mirror, check the back of your neck and your scalp, parting your hair.
- With a hand mirror, check your back and buttocks.
See a board-certified dermatologist if a spot looks different from your other spots, or if it changes, itches or bleeds. (AAD) Only a clinician can say what a spot is.
The USPSTF separately found the evidence insufficient on counseling adults about skin self-exams (also an I statement), so self-checks are AAD advice, not a USPSTF recommendation. (USPSTF, 2018) Sun-protection advice by age is below.
Possible harms of screening
The USPSTF says trial evidence on harms is limited. Possible harms include scarring from biopsies, worry, and overdiagnosis that leads to overtreatment. (USPSTF, 2023)
Sun protection by age
Screening looks for skin cancer; counseling tries to prevent it. In 2018 the USPSTF graded advice from clinicians about limiting ultraviolet (UV) exposure, for people with fair skin: ivory or pale skin, light eye color, red or blond hair, freckles, or skin that sunburns easily. It covers people without a history of skin cancer. (USPSTF, 2018)
| Age (fair skin) | USPSTF (March 20, 2018) |
|---|---|
| 6 months to 24 years (counseling children, teens, young adults, and parents of young children) | B: recommended (USPSTF, 2018) |
| Older than 24 | C: offer to some people, based on their risk; the net benefit for all adults is small (USPSTF, 2018) |
| Adults: counseling about skin self-exams | I: evidence insufficient (USPSTF, 2018) |
The sun-protection behaviors the USPSTF lists: broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher; hats, sunglasses or sun-protective clothing; avoiding the sun and seeking shade between 10 am and 4 pm; and avoiding indoor tanning. It notes that UV exposure in childhood and the teen years raises skin cancer risk later in life, especially with severe sunburns. (USPSTF, 2018) For a baby under 6 months, or questions about your own skin, ask your doctor.
Questions people ask
At what age should you start skin cancer screening?
The USPSTF sets no age. In 2023 it found the evidence insufficient to weigh the benefits and harms of a visual skin exam by a clinician for adolescents and adults without symptoms (I statement). That is neither a recommendation for nor against it; it means the decision is up to you and your clinician. (USPSTF, 2023)
How often should you get a skin check?
The USPSTF does not set an interval, because it did not find enough evidence on screening itself. The American Academy of Dermatology encourages checking your own skin regularly, and seeing a board-certified dermatologist if a spot looks different from the others or changes, itches or bleeds. (AAD)
Does the USPSTF advice apply if I had skin cancer before?
No. The statement does not apply to people with a personal or family history of skin cancer, or to people with symptoms such as moles that change in size, shape or color. Talk to your doctor about a checking plan. (USPSTF, 2023)
Who is at higher risk for melanoma?
The USPSTF lists fair skin that sunburns easily, light-colored eyes, red or blond hair, many moles, atypical moles, and a personal or family history of skin cancer. In Black people, the most common melanoma appears on skin that gets little sun, such as the palms, soles, or under the nails. (USPSTF, 2023)
What sun-protection advice should children and young adults get?
For people aged 6 months to 24 years with fair skin, the USPSTF recommends that clinicians counsel them, or the parents of young children, about limiting UV exposure (grade B, 2018). The behaviors it lists: broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher; hats, sunglasses or sun-protective clothing; avoiding the sun and seeking shade from 10 am to 4 pm; and not using tanning beds. (USPSTF, 2018)
Should adults over 24 get sun-protection counseling?
Selectively. For adults older than 24 with fair skin, the USPSTF says clinicians should offer it to some people (grade C, 2018), because the benefit for all adults is small. Risk factors it names include a history of sunburns, past use of tanning beds, and a personal or family history of skin cancer. (USPSTF, 2018)
Are there harms to skin cancer screening?
The USPSTF says evidence on harms is limited. Possible harms include scarring from biopsies, worry, and overdiagnosis that leads to treatment of a cancer that would not have caused problems. (USPSTF, 2023)