Skin Cancer Screening: What Happens During a Full-Body Skin Exam?

If the thought of a full-body skin examination feels intimidating or even invasive, then knowing more about the process can help allay any worries. Scheduling annual skin cancer screening by a dermatologist is as important as other health monitoring, like blood pressure, cholesterol, and other proactive steps for great health.

Rest assured, the process is straightforward, non-invasive, and one of the most potentially life-saving appointments you can make.

Why Have an Annual Skin Exam

Skin cancer is highly treatable when caught early, so an annual full-body skin examination is a crucial element of preventative medicine. 

This, in combination with regular self-examination, is what the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends as the best way to stay on top of any potentially worrying skin issues. Plus, a dermatologist will help you understand exactly what you should be looking for when performing a self-check, so you know when something warrants scheduling an additional appointment.

As one of Houston’s leading dermatology clinics, Bayou City Dermatology clinicians are well-versed in the art of melanoma screening. Houston is, after all, blessed with over 200 days of sunshine. However, annual full-body skin checks are just as important for those who live in less sunny areas. UV rays affect all of us, even when it’s cloudy, or simply because of the human penchant to expose our skin to the warmth of the sun whenever she graces us with her presence.

What Happens During a Skin Cancer Check

After filling out your standard intake forms, you’ll be taken to the examination room. Here, either your dermatologist, nurse, or medical assistant will give you a medical gown and the privacy to undress. Don’t worry, you keep your underwear on and put the gown over the top. These are like regular hospital gowns, with an opening and ties at the back.

The skin examination takes around 10-15 minutes. Your doctor will use a bright light and a hand-held tool, called a dermatoscope. This allows them to magnify your moles and lesions, visualizing the structures of pigmented lesions to help distinguish between benign moles and potentially cancerous growths.

They will systematically check your skin from head to toe, including areas you might forget, such as the scalp, behind the ears, between your toes, and the soles of your feet.

What is the Dermatologist Looking For During a Full Body Skin Exam?

Healthy moles and skin marks tend to be a single color, reasonably symmetrical, and generally unchanging. During a skin exam, your dermatology uses a systematic approach to look at all of your unique markings. 

Changes are determined by what’s called the ABCDEs of melanoma. These stand for:

• A (Asymmetry): One half of the mole doesn’t match the other
• B (Border): The edges are ragged, notched, or blurred
• C (Color): There are variations in color (shades of tan, brown, black, blue, red, or white)
• D (Diameter): The spot is larger than the size of a pencil eraser
• E (Evolving): The mole is changing in size, shape, or has symptoms (like itching or bleeding).

They are also looking for anything that stands out, such as a mole or lesion that looks significantly different from the rest of the spots on your body.

This list is the same as what you should use when performing self-checks at home. If a mole, pimple, spot, or lesion fits any of the above categories, then take this as a warning sign of when to see a dermatologist for a mole. It doesn’t mean it is skin cancer, but the sooner it’s seen and diagnosed, the more likely it is for simple, wholly effective treatment.

What Happens If Something Suspicious Is Found?

Finding a suspicious spot is not an automatic diagnosis of cancer. Any concerning mole is likely to need a biopsy—a simple, quick procedure that removes a small sample of the skin to be sent to a lab for testing. The results typically come back in a week or two. Even if a spot is precancerous, catching it during a screening allows for removal before it has the chance to become invasive.

How to Prepare for your Appointment

Arriving prepared can help the process go as quickly and smoothly as possible. Try to ensure that you.

• Wear easy to remove clothing: Clean, bare skin allows the dermatologist to easily visualize your body. Clothes that are easy to take off and put on make your life easier.
• Remove Nail Polish: Doctors need to check the nail beds for pigment changes. Even clear polish reduces the ability to see them. If you wear false nails, it can be a good idea to schedule your skin check appointment between nail applications.
• Remove Makeup: A full-face inspection is necessary to check for basal or squamous cell carcinomas that can sometimes masquerade as a pimple or dry spot that won’t heal
• Hair Care: Skip the heavy hair products, hair spray, or braids if possible, as the doctor will need to part your hair to examine your scalp.
• Know Your History: Be sure to mention any personal or family history of skin cancer, or if you’ve noticed any specific spots that have changed recently.

What to Bring with You

As with any medical appointment, there are a few things you should bring along.

• Insurance Card and ID: Standard for any medical appointment.
•  A List of Questions: Don’t be afraid to ask about your sunscreen habits or specific dry patches you’ve noticed.
• A Pen and Notebook: It’s often helpful to jot down after-care instructions or recommendations for future follow-ups.

And that’s it! Booking your appointment is often the biggest hurdle. Whether this is down to being a bit embarrassed about stripping off in front of a stranger or simply that life gets in the way and it drops to the end of your to-do list, booking the next one before you leave the doctor’s office means that it’s in your diary for the next year.

Our dermatologists carry out thousands of full body skin exams in Houston each year. Many of our clients schedule them in with other treatments, and some people just visit once a year for this essential check.

An annual full-body skin exam could save your life. Book yours at any of Bayou City Dermatology's three Houston locations.