Check Your Skin Day in Canada Date in the current year: May 3, 2026

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. It accounts for at least 40% of all cancer cases, affecting more than 5.6 million people worldwide each year. Although skin cancer has a higher five-year survival rate than many other types of cancer, it should not be taken lightly. The chances of survival are high with early detection and treatment, and the Canadian Dermatology Association (CDA) is working to raise awareness of this fact.

The CDA is a professional member organization that advocates for dermatologists across the country, works to advance the science of dermatology, and educates the public about skin conditions. The CDA designated May as Sun Awareness Month to raise awareness of the risks of UV exposure and the importance of skin cancer prevention and early detection.

In 2022, the CDA designated the first Sunday of Sun Awareness Month as Check Your Skin Day. The main goal of this day is to educate people on a simple five-step process for checking their skin for unusual spots, moles, and other changes that may indicate skin cancer. The steps are as follows:

1. Stand in front of a full-length mirror in a brightly lit room. Check your face, neck, chest, arms, shoulders, abdomen, thighs, and lower legs.
2. Raise your arms and check your underarms and both sides of your torso.
3. Turn your back to the mirror and use a hand mirror to check your scalp, the back of your neck, your upper and lower back, your buttocks, and the backs of your legs. If you don’t have a hand mirror, ask someone for help.
4. Examine your hands and fingers, including the palms, nails, and spaces between your fingers.
5. Examine your feet, including the tops, soles, toenails, and spaces between your toes.

If you notice any changes that look suspicious, don’t wait and book an appointment with a dermatologist. Be especially wary of moles or pigmented spots that fit the ABCDE rule of melanoma detection:

• A is for Asymmetry: One half of the mole or spot is not like the other half.
• B is for Border: The mole or spot has an irregular or poorly defined border.
• C is for Color: The mole or spot has different colors, whether completely different or shades of one color.
• D is for Diameter: Melanomas are usually greater than 6 mm (about the size of a pencil eraser) when diagnosed, but they can be smaller in the early stages.
• E is for Evolving: The mole or spot looks different from the rest or has changed in shape, size, or color since you last checked it.

It should be noted that the purpose of Check Your Skin Day is not to encourage people to check their skin only once a year on the first Sunday in May because one yearly check is insufficient. This holiday aims to encourage people to make regular skin checks a habit. This simple ritual will only take a few minutes of your time, but it could potentially save your life.