Skin Cancer Screenings
Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and also the most accessible. A simple full-body skin examination by a board-certified dermatologist can detect skin cancer early, often before you notice any symptoms yourself.
At Vue Dermatology & Laser, we believe that prevention and early detection are among the most important ways to protect your long-term health. Whether you’ve never had a skin exam or you’re wondering how often you should be checked, here’s what you should know.
A total-body skin exam, also called a full skin check or skin cancer screening, is a head-to-toe evaluation of your skin performed by a dermatologist.
During your visit, your dermatologist carefully examines your skin from your scalp to the bottoms of your feet, looking for:
- Suspicious moles
- New or changing growths
- Precancerous lesions such as actinic keratoses
- Basal cell carcinoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Melanoma
- Other unusual skin findings
Most examinations take 5-10 minutes and are non-invasive, unless biopsies are required.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Millions of Americans are diagnosed every year with basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or melanoma.
The encouraging news is that when skin cancer is detected early, treatment is often simpler, less invasive, and highly successful.
Early detection can:
- Catch melanoma before it spreads
- Catch basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma while they are small and easily treatable
- Identify precancerous lesions before they become skin cancer
- Reduce the size and complexity of surgical procedures
- Improve cure rates
- Potentially save lives
Most skin cancers cause no pain or symptoms during their earliest stages, making regular skin examinations by a board-certified dermatologist especially valuable.
For many adults, an annual full-body skin examination is a reasonable part of routine preventive healthcare.
Yearly screenings are particularly recommended for people who have one or more risk factors, including:
- Fair skin, light eyes, and blonde or red hair
- A history of frequent sunburns
- Significant lifetime sun exposure
- Extensive sun damage or numerous actinic keratoses
- Indoor tanning bed use
- Numerous moles
- Large or atypical (dysplastic) moles
- A personal history of skin cancer
- A family history of melanoma
- A weakened immune system
- Previous organ transplantation
Even individuals without obvious risk factors can benefit from establishing a baseline skin examination, especially as they get older.
Some patients have a higher risk of developing additional skin cancers and benefit from more frequent surveillance.
Your dermatologist may recommend examinations every six months if you have:
A Personal History of Skin Cancer
Once someone has had one or more skin cancers, their risk of developing another increases. This includes patients with basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Regular surveillance helps identify new cancers while they are still small and easily treatable.
Significant Sun Damage and Numerous Actinic Keratoses
Actinic keratoses are rough, sun-damaged patches that represent precancerous changes in the skin. Patients with extensive cumulative sun damage may develop new precancers and skin cancers more frequently than the average person. People who continually develop thick actinic keratoses may benefit from skin examinations every six months to monitor for progression into squamous cell carcinoma and to identify new lesions requiring treatment.
Multiple Dysplastic (Atypical) Moles
People with numerous irregular-appearing moles can be more difficult to monitor on self-examination and may be candidates for more frequent full skin examinations.
Immunosuppression
Patients taking medications that suppress the immune system—or those who have undergone organ transplantation—have a substantially higher risk of certain skin cancers and often require closer surveillance.
Professional skin examinations are important, but monthly self-skin examinations are also recommended as a good way to identify changes that may be medically relevant.
When checking your skin, look for:
- A new mole or one that is changing in color, shape, or size
- A spot that is growing
- A sore that does not heal
- A lesion that bleeds easily
- A spot that looks different from your other moles (the “ugly duckling” sign)
If you notice anything concerning, don’t wait until your next scheduled appointment.
If your dermatologist identifies a concerning lesion they will most likely perform a biopsy to allow a dermatopathologist to confirm the diagnosis under a microscope. Skin biopsies are performed in the office using local anesthetic and often take only a few minutes.
While not every skin cancer can be prevented, you can significantly reduce your risk by practicing good sun protection.
Helpful habits include:
- Applying a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher sunscreen every day
- Wearing protective clothing and wide-brimmed hats
- Seeking shade during peak sunlight hours
- Avoiding tanning beds
- Reapplying sunscreen every two hours while outdoors
- Scheduling routine skin examinations with your dermatologist
These measures help reduce cumulative UV damage, which is the leading preventable cause of most skin cancers. Once someone develops extensive sun damage and numerous precancerous actinic keratoses, there are medical treatments such as photodynamic therapy and chemotherapy creams that can be used to reduce the risk of progression to skin cancer.
Schedule a Full-Body Skin Examination
A full-body skin examination is one of the simplest and most effective ways to detect skin cancer early.
At Vue Dermatology & Laser, we take a thorough, personalized approach to skin cancer screening. Whether you’re due for your first skin exam or need ongoing surveillance because of previous skin cancer, we’re here to help protect your skin for years to come.
References
- American Academy of Dermatology. Skin Cancer Screening and Early Detection.
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). Melanoma: Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology.
- NCCN. Basal Cell Skin Cancer Guidelines.
- NCCN. Squamous Cell Skin Cancer Guidelines.
- American Cancer Society. Signs and Symptoms of Skin Cancer.
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Behavioral Counseling to Prevent Skin Cancer: Recommendation Statement.
At a Glance
Philip Eliades, MD, FAAD
- Board-Certified Dermatologist
- Served as Chief Resident at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Author of numerous peer-reviewed research articles in leading Dermatology journals
- Learn more
