Skin Cancer Screening: What To Expect At Your Appointment

By Author: James
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Skin cancer can have a profound impact on a person’s life. If untreated, some skin cancer can metastasize and result in death.
Taking care of your skin is serious business and the longer you go unchecked, the more damage you could be doing to your body’s largest organ.

Healthy skin starts with frequent checkups. It is recommended by dermatologists that everyone goes in for a skin care screening procedure at least a year. For people who are exposed to even more of the sun’s harmful rays on a daily basis, whether from working outside or living in a warmer climate, should performself-skin care checks in-between doctor visits to make sure nothing of concern is developing.

If you’ve never had a skin care screening, you may be a little unsure of what to expect at your appointment. Here is what a skin care screening procedure entails so you can be prepared!

Strip it Down

Probably the most uncomfortable part of your exam will be stripping down to the stylish hospital-style gowns that claim to fit everyone – but don’t really fit anyone. For patients feeling uncomfortable about being ...
... over exposed, it may be helpful to remember that the exam will be quick and a few minutes of discomfort will tell you everything you need to know about your skin’s health.

Once the dermatologist comes in and goes over any parts of your skin you may have concerns over and goes over your family history, he or she will do a full skin check from head to toe. This will include areas of your body you didn’t even think to examine like your scalp, fingertips, eyelids and mouth.

Suspicious Spots

If your doctor does notice something suspicious, he or she will note it and may decide to keep an eye on it. Your doctor may also choose to biopsy the suspicious spot that day so you don’t have to come back for another appointment, and will take a picture for comparison purposes.

A biopsy is completed by numbing the area of concern and shaving off a small sample for testing with a circular blade. You will receive your results within one to two weeks. Depending on your results, you and your doctor will decide on the best plan of action moving forward.

Exam Details

Most skin cancer screening procedure can be done in 20 minutes. With just a short appointment, you can rest assured that your skin is as healthy as can be. In addition to the skin screening, your doctor will go over risk factors for skin cancer and how you can reduce your risk and exposure. He or she will also suggest when you should come back for your next screening depending on the results from your first.

Many are tempted to skip seeing a skin care specialist, but the consequences for doing so could be steep. Keep your skin in top health with yearly skin cancer screening procedures.

James is a leading expert on the ins and outs of all things skin care. As a freelance writer living in South Florida, James focuses on promoting the use of sun protection and regular skin checks to help combat any long-term effects from enjoying life in the Sunshine State.