AI-Supported Skin Screening

Free AI Skin Cancer Checker — Instant Online Lesion Screening

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Free skin cancer checker online — no install, no signup. Upload a photo of a mole, spot, sore or scab and get AI screening guidance in under 30 seconds using the ABCDE method (melanoma, BCC, SCC). Not a diagnosis.

Instant resultsEncryptedNo appointmentNot a diagnosis
Last medically reviewed: June 2026
Evidence standard: NHS · NICE · Cancer Research UK · British Association of Dermatologists · peer-reviewed dermatology literature

AI Skin Cancer Detection Free: How It Works

ScanSkinAI works as a skin cancer photo checker — upload a photo of any suspicious spot and the AI returns screening guidance in seconds.

1

Upload a Clear Photo

Take a well-lit photo of the concerning skin spot using your phone or computer.

2

Instant AI Analysis

Our AI skin analysis analyses the image for signs of melanoma and other skin cancers using pattern recognition.

3

Get Risk Assessment

Receive a clear risk level with guidance on whether you should see a dermatologist.

What This Online Skin Cancer Screening Tool Can Detect

As a free skin cancer checker, this tool helps screen for:

Melanoma

The most dangerous form of skin cancer

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Slow-growing but very common

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

May spread if untreated

Actinic Keratosis

Precancerous sun-damage lesions

It can also help assess:

  • Non-healing sores
  • Scabs that repeatedly return
  • Pearly or waxy bumps
  • Rough, crusty patches
  • Bleeding spots without injury
  • New or changing skin lesions

When to Use an AI Skin Lesion Checker

This tool is helpful if you notice:

A sore that won't heal after 2–4 weeks
A scab that keeps reopening
A shiny bump that doesn't disappear
A rough patch that feels like sandpaper
A spot that bleeds easily
A fast-changing skin lesion
A suspicious spot on the face, nose, scalp, ears, or neck

If the concern is a mole, use our dedicated mole analysis tool instead.

Why Early Skin Cancer Detection Matters

Skin cancer is highly treatable when caught early.

~100%

5-year survival for Stage 1 melanoma (Cancer Research UK)

Delayed detection greatly increases treatment complexity.

Many dangerous lesions start as small, subtle changes.

Online skin cancer screening helps you decide faster whether professional evaluation is necessary. Early action saves lives.

Scab That Won't Heal (2-4 Week Rule)

A scab that doesn't heal within 2-4 weeks could be a sign of skin cancer, particularly basal cell carcinoma (BCC) or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Normal wounds typically heal within this timeframe. If you have a scab that keeps returning, bleeds repeatedly, or won't fully heal, it's important to have it evaluated by a dermatologist.

Sore That Won't Heal

A persistent sore that won't heal is one of the most common signs of non-melanoma skin cancer. These sores may crust over, bleed, heal partially, then reopen. They're especially concerning on sun-exposed areas like the face, ears, hands, and arms. Don't dismiss a "stubborn sore" as minor—get it checked within 2-3 weeks if it hasn't healed.

Spot on Nose That Won't Heal

The nose is one of the most common locations for basal cell carcinoma due to high sun exposure. A spot on your nose that appears pearly, translucent, bleeds easily, or won't heal could be BCC. These often start as a small, shiny bump that may be mistaken for a pimple but doesn't go away after several weeks. Early detection on the nose is crucial to minimize treatment scarring.

Pearly Bump on Skin (BCC Sign)

A pearly or waxy bump is a classic sign of basal cell carcinoma. These bumps are often translucent with visible blood vessels, may have a central depression, and can appear pink, red, white, or skin-colored. They typically appear on sun-exposed areas and grow slowly over months or years. If you notice a pearly bump that doesn't go away, see a dermatologist.

Crusty or Scaly Patch

Rough, scaly, or crusty patches that don't resolve with moisturizer could be actinic keratosis (a precancerous condition) or squamous cell carcinoma. These patches often feel like sandpaper, may be red, pink, or skin-colored, and typically appear on sun-damaged skin. Actinic keratoses can progress to SCC if untreated, so early evaluation is important.

Bleeding Spot Without Injury

A spot that bleeds spontaneously without being scratched or injured is a warning sign that should not be ignored. Both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers can bleed easily. If you have a spot that bleeds repeatedly, oozes, or crusts over without healing, seek medical evaluation promptly.

Face & Scalp: High-Risk Areas

The face, scalp, ears, and neck receive the most cumulative sun exposure over a lifetime, making them high-risk areas for skin cancer. Pay special attention to the nose, ears, lower lip, and bald scalps. Regular monitoring of these areas is crucial—any new or changing spots should be checked by a dermatologist.

Skin Cancer by the Numbers

Understanding the importance of regular screening

2 in 3

Australians are diagnosed with skin cancer by age 70 (Cancer Council Australia)

~100%

5-year survival for Stage 1 melanoma (Cancer Research UK)

Every hour

2 people die from skin cancer in the US

9,500+

Skin cancer diagnoses per day

When to See a Doctor Urgently

These warning signs require prompt medical attention

  • A lesion that bleeds or oozes without injury
  • Rapid size or color change over days or weeks
  • A sore that won't heal after 3 weeks
  • New pigmented lesion appearing in adulthood
  • Multiple ABCDE warning signs present
  • Severe pain, itching, or tenderness in a mole

If you notice any of these signs, schedule a dermatologist appointment within 1-2 weeks. For rapidly changing or bleeding lesions, seek care within days.

What This Tool Can & Can't Do

Understanding the scope of AI screening

What It Can Do

  • Screen for visual signs of skin cancer
  • Assess relative risk level of lesions
  • Help prioritize which spots need professional review
  • Track changes in spots over time
  • Provide educational information about skin cancer

What It Cannot Do

  • Replace a dermatologist's clinical examination
  • Provide a definitive medical diagnosis
  • Detect all types of skin cancer (e.g., amelanotic melanoma)
  • Perform or substitute for a biopsy
  • Detect subsurface or internal cancers

Types of Skin Cancer We Detect

Melanoma

High Risk

Most dangerous form of skin cancer, arising from pigment-producing cells

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Medium Risk

Most common skin cancer type, usually slow-growing

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Medium-High Risk

Second most common type, can spread if untreated

Actinic Keratosis

Low-Medium Risk

Precancerous skin condition from sun damage

Photo Guidelines for Best Results

Follow these tips to get the most accurate analysis

1

Use natural daylight

Avoid flash which can wash out details

2

Hold camera 4-6 inches away

Close enough for detail, far enough for context

3

Ensure sharp focus

Tap on the lesion to focus before shooting

4

Include a size reference

Place a coin or ruler next to the spot

5

Capture surrounding skin

Helps AI assess contrast and context

6

Clean your camera lens

Smudges can affect image quality

Why Check Your Skin Online?

Early Detection

Skin cancer is highly treatable when caught early — Cancer Research UK reports near-100% 5-year survival for Stage 1 melanoma

Convenient Screening

Check suspicious spots from home without waiting for appointments

Peace of Mind

Get immediate risk assessment and know when to see a dermatologist

Detailed Analysis

Comprehensive reports with clear next steps and recommendations

How Online Screening Works

1

Take a Clear Photo

Photograph the suspicious spot or mole in good lighting with a clear, close-up view

2

AI Analysis

Our AI analyzes the image for signs of melanoma and other skin cancers using pattern recognition

3

Get Results & Recommendations

Receive instant risk assessment with clear guidance on whether to see a dermatologist

Next Steps After Screening

What to do with your results

Low Risk Result

  • • Continue monthly self-exams
  • • Re-scan in 4-6 weeks to monitor
  • • Schedule annual dermatologist visit
  • • Save result for future comparison

Moderate Risk Result

  • • Schedule dermatologist within 2-4 weeks
  • • Take additional photos for documentation
  • • Print or save results to show doctor
  • • Monitor for any changes before appointment

High Risk Result

  • • Schedule dermatologist within 1-2 weeks
  • • Mention "concerning mole" when booking
  • • Document any changes daily
  • • Don't panic—evaluation determines next steps

When to seek medical help

Use this skin cancer symptom checker to inform your next step — not to replace it. Seek professional advice on the following timelines.

ROUTINE — book a GP / dermatologist
  • New mole or spot after age 40
  • Lesion that looks unlike your other moles
  • Personal or family history of skin cancer
PROMPT — within 2 weeks
  • Change in size, shape or colour
  • Persistent itch, tenderness or new bleeding
  • A sore or scab that has not healed in 4 weeks

Aligned with NICE NG12 suspected-cancer guidance.

URGENT — same-day / A&E
  • Rapidly growing pigmented or ulcerating lesion
  • Heavy bleeding or signs of infection
  • New lump in a nearby lymph node

See a clinician even if an AI screening result appears low risk — if the lesion is changing, bleeding, painful or concerning to you.

How We Measure Accuracy

Transparency in our AI methodology

Training Data

Our AI is trained on dermatologist-verified datasets including HAM10000 (Human Against Machine with 10,000 training images) and DermNet, comprising hundreds of thousands of labeled skin lesion images.

Performance Metrics

We report F1-score, sensitivity (ability to detect true positives), and specificity (ability to avoid false positives). Our model achieves strong performance on test datasets, though real-world performance may vary based on image quality and lesion characteristics.

Important Limitations

AI models perform best on images similar to training data. Performance may vary across skin tones, for rare lesion types, and for poor-quality photos. This is why we recommend using AI as a screening support tool rather than a diagnostic replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about online skin cancer screening

Yes. ScanSkinAI is a free skin cancer checker online — upload a photo of a mole, lesion or skin concern and get AI screening guidance in about 30 seconds. It screens for visible signs associated with melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. It is a screening-support tool, not a diagnostic device, and any concerning result should be reviewed by a clinician.

ScanSkinAI is a screening-support tool, not a diagnostic device. The model is trained on dermatologist-labelled images from public datasets such as HAM10000 and DermNet. Real-world performance varies with image quality, lesion type and skin tone. See our Evidence Base for methodology. Any concerning result should be reviewed by a clinician.

Skin cancer can appear as a new or changing mole, a sore that doesn't heal, a shiny or pearly bump, a rough scaly patch, or a dark streak under a nail. Use the ABCDE rule: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Colour variation, Diameter over 6mm, and Evolving appearance. When in doubt, get it checked.

Our AI can detect signs of melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and actinic keratosis (precancerous condition). It analyzes multiple visual characteristics including asymmetry, border irregularity, color variation, and diameter.

If you receive a high-concern result, you should schedule an appointment with a dermatologist within 1-2 weeks. Print or save your results to share with your doctor. Do not panic—high concern means the lesion warrants professional evaluation, not that you definitely have cancer.

Yes, our AI is specifically trained to identify visual signs associated with melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer. It analyzes the ABCDE criteria (Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Evolution) that dermatologists use. However, definitive melanoma diagnosis requires a biopsy.

For best results: use natural daylight (not flash), hold your camera 4-6 inches from the lesion, ensure sharp focus on the spot, include a small ruler or coin for scale reference, capture surrounding normal skin for comparison, and clean your camera lens before shooting.

AI performance can vary across skin tones. Our model is trained on diverse datasets, but historically, dermatology AI has had less training data for darker skin tones. We recommend all users, especially those with Fitzpatrick skin types V-VI, use this as one tool among regular dermatologist visits.

Seek urgent medical care if you notice: a lesion that bleeds or oozes without injury, rapid size or color change over days/weeks, a sore that won't heal after 3 weeks, severe pain or itching, or multiple warning signs (asymmetry + irregular border + multiple colors). These warrant same-week evaluation.

No. This is a screening support tool, not a diagnostic device. Only a qualified healthcare provider can diagnose skin cancer, typically requiring a physical examination and often a biopsy. Our tool helps you identify spots that may need professional evaluation.

Dermatologists recommend monthly full-body self-exams. Use our tool to check any new or changing spots. High-risk individuals (fair skin, history of sunburns, family history of skin cancer, many moles, or immunosuppression) should also have annual professional skin exams.

Yes, registered users can save scan results to track changes in specific spots over time. Monitoring evolution is crucial—the 'E' in ABCDE—because changing moles are more concerning than stable ones, even if they look unusual.

A dermatologist provides hands-on examination, can use dermoscopy for magnified views, assess your full medical history, perform biopsies, and provide definitive diagnosis and treatment. Our tool offers convenient initial screening to help you decide which spots warrant professional attention.

Yes. Photos are encrypted in transit and at rest using industry-standard protocols. Images are not stored permanently unless you choose to save them for tracking. We do not sell your data or share images with third-party advertisers. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

Trust your instincts. If a spot concerns you—especially if it's new, changing, or looks different from your other moles—see a dermatologist regardless of our result. AI screening is a helpful tool, but your observations and a doctor's expertise are invaluable.

ScanSkinAI uses deep-learning neural networks trained on large public and licensed dermatology image datasets. It analyses visual patterns — shape, colour distribution, texture and borders — that correlate with benign versus potentially malignant lesions, similar to what a clinician assesses visually. It does not perform dermoscopy or biopsy.

Yes, you can check as many spots as needed. We recommend checking any spot that looks different from your other moles, has changed recently, is new (especially in adults over 30), or shows any ABCDE warning signs.

Everyone should perform monthly self-exams. Higher-risk individuals should screen more frequently and see a dermatologist annually: those with fair skin, history of severe sunburns, family history of melanoma, 50+ moles, prior skin cancer, or weakened immune systems.

ABCDE is a memory aid for melanoma warning signs: Asymmetry (one half unlike the other), Border (irregular, scalloped edges), Color (varied shades of brown, black, red, white, or blue), Diameter (larger than 6mm, about pencil eraser size), and Evolution (changing in size, shape, or color).

Online screening is an excellent first step for early detection and helps prioritize which spots need professional evaluation. However, it cannot replace a dermatologist's clinical judgment, dermoscopy examination, or the ability to perform a biopsy for definitive diagnosis.

Don't Wait - Check Your Skin Today

Early detection of skin cancer can save your life. Get a free screening in under 2 minutes.

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Important Medical Disclaimer

This AI skin cancer checker provides educational risk assessments only and is not a medical diagnosis. Accuracy may vary depending on image quality, lighting, and lesion type. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical advice and biopsy confirmation.

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