At Turner Dermatology, our physicians recommend a full skin cancer screening once a year and if you are at a high risk for skin cancer, we may recommend more often.
To prepare you for your full skin cancer screening, perform a self exam so you can point out lesions you are concerned about. Always remove any nail polish so we can evaluate your fingernails and toenails. We will look through your hair and at your scalp, so keep your hair loose. Remove any makeup and always ask questions!
You will be asked to remove your clothing and put on a medical exam gown. Our providers will very thoroughly check your skin from head to toe, paying close attention to hard-to-see spots like your scalp, back, and buttocks, behind your ears, and even between your toes. Our providers utilize a small handheld magnifying device called a dermatoscope, that visualizes the outer surface of the skin (the epidermis) and the layers just beneath it.
If we find suspicious lesions, we will recommend a biopsy. This usually means removing part or all of the lesion and sending it to a pathology lab for analysis. If the report comes back that the spot is skin cancer, we will contact you and explain the type of skin cancer and treatment options.
Please remember that early detection is the key to skin cancer prevention.
Make your appointment today!