Quick answer
To check your skin for skin cancer at home, undress in good light, use a full-length mirror and a hand mirror, and scan every patch of skin head-to-toe once a month. Use the ABCDE rule (Asymmetry, Border, Colour, Diameter, Evolving) on every mole. See a GP for any spot that's new, changing, bleeding or different from your other moles.
TL;DR: Key Takeaways
- Australia has the world's highest melanoma rate — 2 in 3 Australians get a skin cancer by age 70.
- Cancer Council Australia recommends a full-body self-check every month.
- The ABCDE rule: Asymmetry, Border, Colour, Diameter >6mm, Evolving.
- See your GP for any new, changing, bleeding or 'ugly duckling' spot.
- A free AI skin check between visits helps you triage spots in 30 seconds.
Why Aussies need monthly skin checks
Two in three Australians will be diagnosed with a skin cancer by the age of 70. Melanoma is the most serious — and the most preventable when caught early. Cancer Council Australia recommends monthly self-checks for everyone, and an annual professional skin check from your GP or a skin cancer clinic if you're over 40, have lots of moles, or have had skin cancer before.
The point of a self-check isn't to diagnose anything. It's to notice change — a new spot, an old mole that looks different, a sore that won't heal. You're the only person who sees your skin every day.
The ABCDE rule for moles
- A — Asymmetry: one half doesn't match the other.
- B — Border: edges that are ragged, blurred or irregular.
- C — Colour: more than one shade — brown, black, red, white, blue.
- D — Diameter: larger than 6 mm (about a pencil rubber).
- E — Evolving: any change in size, shape, colour, height or symptoms (bleeding, itching, crusting).
For the full clinical version with photos, see our ABCDE rule for melanoma guide and melanoma vs benign mole comparison.
What sunspots actually look like
"Sunspots" is the everyday Aussie word for two very different things:
- Solar lentigines — flat, light brown 'age spots'. Harmless, but a sign of cumulative UV damage.
- Actinic keratoses — rough, scaly, pink or red patches that feel like sandpaper. These are pre-cancers and 5–10% can progress to squamous cell carcinoma without treatment.
If a 'sunspot' is rough to touch, tender, or growing — see your GP. More detail in our actinic keratosis pictures guide.
UV index by state — when sun protection actually matters
UV intensity (not temperature) drives skin cancer risk. The ARPANSA scale starts at 0 and tops out around 14 in northern Australia in summer. SunSmart guidance says protect whenever UV is 3 or higher. In most of the country, that covers nearly the whole year.
| State / Territory | Peak summer UV | Protection months | High-risk hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| QLD (Brisbane, Cairns) | 12–14 | All year | 9 am – 4 pm |
| NT (Darwin) | 12–14 | All year | 9 am – 4 pm |
| NSW (Sydney) | 11–13 | Aug – May | 10 am – 3 pm |
| WA (Perth) | 12–13 | Aug – May | 10 am – 3 pm |
| SA (Adelaide) | 11–12 | Sep – Apr | 10 am – 3 pm |
| VIC (Melbourne) | 10–12 | Sep – Apr | 10 am – 3 pm |
| ACT (Canberra) | 10–11 | Sep – Apr | 10 am – 3 pm |
| TAS (Hobart) | 9–11 | Oct – Mar | 10 am – 3 pm |
For a real-time, location-aware safe-exposure calculator, use our Australian UV index & safe-sun guide or the free UV index calculator powered by Open-Meteo.
Medicare item numbers and what a skin check actually costs
A first-pass skin check from your GP is usually billed under MBS items 23 or 36 — most bulk-bill, meaning $0 out of pocket. Once a suspicious spot is found, a typical pathway includes:
| Step | MBS item | Typical gap fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| GP Level B consult (≤20 min) | 23 | $0 – $40 | Often bulk-billed |
| GP Level C consult (20–40 min) | 36 | $0 – $70 | Used for full body checks |
| Skin lesion excision (BCC / SCC) | 31255 – 31335 | $0 – $250 | Higher rebate at skin cancer clinic |
| Histopathology | 73053 | $0 – $40 | Lab-billed separately |
| Dermatologist consult (referral required) | 104 / 105 | $120 – $250 | After GP referral |
GP vs skin cancer clinic vs dermatologist — which one to book?
The three pathways serve different purposes. Most Australians start with their GP and only escalate if something is flagged.
| Setting | Best for | Tools used | Wait time |
|---|---|---|---|
| GP (family doctor) | First-pass check, monitoring, single spot | Eye exam, basic dermoscopy | 1–2 weeks |
| Skin cancer clinic | Multiple moles, fair skin, family history | Dermoscopy, total body photography | 2–4 weeks |
| Dermatologist | Confirmed cancer, complex cases, biopsy results | Specialist dermoscopy, surgical planning | 6–12 weeks |
A note for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians
Melanoma incidence is lower among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, but late-stage diagnosis is more common — partly because the classic ABCDE rule is built around sun-exposed sites on fair skin. The most common subtype in darker skin tones is acral lentiginous melanoma, which appears on palms, soles, between fingers or under nails as a new dark patch or vertical streak. Add 30 seconds to your monthly self-check for these locations regardless of skin colour.
Many Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) offer culturally-safe skin cancer checks. Bulk-billed appointments at ACCHO clinics use the same Medicare items as a standard GP.
Three real-world Aussie self-check scenarios
Tradie · QLD · 42
Sandpaper patch on forearm
A rough, pink patch felt before it could be seen. Photographed monthly; after 6 weeks it was tender and crusting. GP biopsy confirmed actinic keratosis, treated in clinic with cryotherapy on the same visit.
Surfer · NSW · 35
'Ugly duckling' mole on shoulder
Spotted via the ScanSkinAI mole checker as 'high-risk; book a GP'. A 4-week wait for a skin cancer clinic, dermoscopy confirmed in-situ melanoma, excised under local anaesthetic. Total time from photo to clear margins: 6 weeks.
Retiree · VIC · 68
Non-healing sore on lower lip
A 5 mm spot that kept scabbing and reopening for 6 weeks. GP referral to a dermatologist confirmed early SCC; treated with Mohs surgery. Lip checks are commonly missed because most people skip the mirror at this site.
Three myths that delay Aussie skin checks
- Myth: 'I'm tanned, so I'm protected.' A tan blocks roughly SPF 4 — meaningless against the QLD UV index of 14.
- Myth: 'Skin cancer only happens to fair skin.' Melanoma in darker skin tones is rarer but more often fatal because it's caught late on palms and soles.
- Myth: 'A mole I've had for years can't be cancer.' Around 30% of melanomas arise within an existing mole; the rest are new lesions. Both should be checked.
Not sure if a spot is a sunspot or something more?
Run a free 30-second AI skin check — no app, no account, no upload to a clinic. Designed for between-visits monitoring.
A 10-minute full-body self-check routine
- 1. In good light, stand in front of a full-length mirror in your undies.
- 2. Check your face, ears, neck and scalp — use a hand mirror or phone for the back of your head.
- 3. Lift your arms and check the sides of your body, then the palms, fingers and underarms.
- 4. Check the front and back of your legs, the soles of your feet, between the toes and the toenails.
- 5. With the hand mirror, check your back, buttocks and the back of your thighs.
- 6. Photograph anything you're not sure about, with a coin for scale, and compare next month.
For the spots you genuinely can't see yourself — like the top of your head — read our scalp skin cancer check guide.
When to see your GP or skin cancer clinic
Book a GP appointment for any spot that:
- Is new after age 40
- Has changed in size, shape, or colour
- Is bleeding, itching, crusting or hasn't healed in 4 weeks
- Looks different from all your other moles ('ugly duckling' sign)
Most GPs in Australia can do an initial skin check, often bulk-billed. For details on costs, what happens, and how to find a skin cancer clinic, see our Australian skin checks guide and mole mapping vs skin checks.
For fees, Medicare rebates and bulk-billing detail, see our breakdown of skin check costs in Australia.
Between professional checks: free instant AI skin check
ScanSkinAI is a free, browser-based AI skin check — no app to install, no account needed for your first scan, and your photos stay private. It's a wellbeing and monitoring tool designed to help you decide whether a spot warrants a GP visit, not a replacement for professional care. Pair it with a monthly self-check and an annual GP visit.
"Australia has the highest melanoma rate in the world — and the cheapest fix is a 10-minute monthly self-check."
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Once a month, in good light, with a mirror — the same routine the Cancer Council recommends. Australia has the world's highest melanoma rate, so monthly self-checks between professional skin checks are the standard.
Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Colour variation, Diameter over 6mm, and Evolving (changing) — five warning signs dermatologists use to flag a mole for closer inspection.
No. Sunspots (solar lentigines) are harmless brown marks from UV. But actinic keratoses — rough, scaly 'sunspots' — can progress to squamous cell carcinoma and should be checked by a GP.
Any spot that's new after age 40, changing in size or colour, bleeding, itching, or different from your other moles. In Australia, GPs can do a bulk-billed skin check and refer you to a skin cancer clinic if needed.
No — ScanSkinAI is a wellbeing and monitoring tool, not a medical diagnosis. It helps you decide whether a spot warrants a GP visit and lets you track changes over time between professional skin checks.
Yes. A standard GP skin check is billed under MBS item 23 (Level B, up to 20 minutes) or item 36 (Level C, 20-40 minutes) and is often bulk-billed. A formal skin cancer review at a dedicated clinic may also use items 30071-30192 for lesion excision and 73053 for histopathology. Cosmetic mole removal is not covered.
Sun protection is recommended any time UV reaches 3 or above. In most of Australia, that's every day from September to April, and year-round above the Tropic of Capricorn. The ARPANSA app shows local UV in real time.
Skin cancer is less common but typically diagnosed later and more often as acral melanoma on palms, soles or under nails. Monthly self-checks should always include hands, feet and nails regardless of skin tone.
GPs do general first-pass checks (often bulk-billed). Skin cancer clinics use dermoscopy and total body photography and usually charge a gap fee. Dermatologists are specialists for complex cases and need a GP referral for the Medicare rebate.
Rarely, but the risk is real for sun-exposed kids. Any new, fast-growing, bleeding or 'odd' spot in a child should be reviewed by a GP within a fortnight. Sunburn before age 15 roughly doubles lifetime melanoma risk.
A GP visit is usually 15-20 minutes for a focused check or 30-40 minutes for a full body skin exam. Skin cancer clinics with full body photography often run 30-60 minutes for a baseline visit, then 15-20 minutes for annual follow-ups.