The skin check everyone should know how to do

Healthy skin starts with getting to know it. With advice from Acton’s Melo Clinic, we explore the simple checks that can help you recognise when something has changed.

We might spend time choosing a moisturiser or researching the latest facial, but how often do we take a proper look at our skin? Beyond the daily routine, becoming familiar with its marks and moles is a habit worth making time for.

At Melo Clinic in Acton, skin health sits at the heart of its approach. Bringing together advanced aesthetic treatments and medical-grade skincare, the clinic champions a philosophy of preventative well-ageing, with an emphasis on subtle results that respect each person’s individual features.

That focus on looking after your skin begins with awareness. We spoke to the clinic, which shared advice from Consultant Plastic Surgeon Syed Mashhadi, FRCS (Plast), on checking your skin at home and recognising changes that deserve professional attention.

Get to know your skin

A regular skin check is an opportunity to become familiar with what is normal for you. Working methodically from head to toe can help you cover areas that are easily overlooked, including your scalp, back and the soles of your feet.

Mashhadi’s advice breaks the process into five simple steps:

1. Face and neck: Examine your face, ears and neck, remembering to check your scalp beneath your hair.
2. Arms and hands: Look over your arms and hands, including your palms, nails and the spaces between your fingers.
3. Chest and stomach: Check your chest, tummy and underarms.
4. Back and shoulders: Use a mirror or ask someone you trust to help examine areas you cannot easily see.
5. Legs and feet: Work down your legs to your feet, checking the soles and between your toes.

Remember your ABCDE

When looking at moles, the ABCDE rule provides a useful reminder of changes to watch for:

• A is for asymmetry: One half of a mole looks different from the other.
• B is for border: The edges appear irregular, uneven or blurred.
• C is for colour: There is a mixture of shades or a change in colour.
• D is for diameter: A mole measures more than 6mm across, although smaller moles can also be concerning.
• E is for evolving: There is a change in size, shape, colour or appearance.

These are prompts to seek advice rather than a way to diagnose a mole yourself. A mole does not need to show every sign to warrant a check. NHS guidance also highlights changes in shape or colour, itching and bleeding as reasons to see a GP.

When to seek advice

Alongside changes to moles, watch for persistent itching, bleeding or a sore that does not heal. If you notice something unusual, arrange a medical assessment rather than waiting for your next routine appointment.

Most moles are harmless, but having a change checked is important. Finding melanoma early can make it easier to treat.

The message is simple: give your skin a little regular attention, become familiar with it and ask for advice when something changes. It is a small addition to your routine that puts skin health first.

Find out more about Melo Clinic at meloclinic.co.uk.

Melo Clinic, Unit A Passel House, Friary Road, Acton, London W3 6GN.