What
is this test?
A
'skin check' can be defined as a thorough assessment and examination of an
asymptomatic patient to detect any signs of skin cancer.
How to Perform
Skin Checks:
○ Good Lighting: Ensure you have bright, natural light or use a strong lamp.
○ Full-Length Mirror: Useful for checking the entire body.
○ Handheld Mirror: Helpful for examining hard-to-see areas.
○ Note Any Changes: Keep a record or take photos of moles or spots to
monitor any changes over time.
○ New Moles or Growths: Any new moles or growths on your
skin.
○ Changes in Existing Moles: Look for changes in size, shape,
color, or texture.
○ Unusual Spots: Sores that don’t heal, or any red or scaly patches.
○ ABCDE Rule for Melanoma:
■
A - Asymmetry: One half of the mole doesn’t
match the other half.
■
B - Border: Edges are irregular, ragged,
notched, or blurred.
■
C - Color: The color is not uniform and
may include shades of brown, black, pink, red, white, or blue.
■
D - Diameter: The spot is larger than 6mm
across (about the size of a pencil eraser).
■
E - Evolving: The mole is changing in
size, shape, or color.
○ Face and Scalp: Use a comb to part hair and check the scalp.
○ Torso: Front, back, and sides. Women should lift breasts to check
underneath.
○ Arms and Hands: Check fingernails, palms, and forearms.
○ Legs and Feet: Don’t forget the soles of the feet and between the toes.
○ Back and Buttocks: Use a handheld mirror to check your back and
buttocks.
Is
this routine or specific?
Skin checks can be both routine and
specific, depending on the context and individual circumstances.
Routine Skin
Checks:
●
Annual Dermatologist Visits: It is generally
recommended that everyone has a professional skin check by a dermatologist once
a year, especially for adults over the age of 40, when the risk of skin cancer
increases.
●
Self-Exams: Monthly self-examinations are encouraged
for all individuals to monitor for any new or changing moles or spots on their
skin.
Specific Skin
Checks:
●
High-Risk Individuals: More frequent skin
checks are recommended for those with higher risk factors, such as:
○
Personal or family
history of skin cancer.
○
Numerous moles or
atypical (dysplastic) moles.
○
Fair skin, freckles, and
light hair.
○
History of sunburns or
excessive sun exposure.
○
Use of tanning beds.
○
Immunosuppressed
individuals, such as organ transplant recipients.
●
After Noticing Changes: If an individual
notices any suspicious changes in their skin, such as new growths, changes in
existing moles, or non-healing sores, they should seek an immediate skin check
from a healthcare provider.
●
Follow-Up for Previous Skin Cancer:
Individuals who have had skin cancer in the past may require more frequent
follow-ups and skin checks to monitor for recurrence.
When
should it be done (frequency)?
●
It is recommended that
adults have a professional skin check by a dermatologist once a year. This
helps in the early detection of skin cancer and other skin conditions.
●
Individuals should
perform a thorough self-examination of their skin once a month to monitor for
any new or changing moles, spots, or other skin abnormalities.
People with higher risk
factors may need to see a dermatologist more frequently, such as every 3 to 6
months. High-risk factors include:
●
Personal or family
history of skin cancer.
●
Presence of numerous
moles or atypical (dysplastic) moles.
●
Fair skin, freckles,
light hair, and light eyes.
●
History of severe
sunburns, particularly in childhood.
●
Excessive sun exposure
or use of tanning beds.
●
Immunosuppressed
individuals, such as those who have had organ transplants.
What
do the results indicate or eliminate?
The results of a skin check can provide
valuable information about your skin health, particularly in identifying or
ruling out skin cancer and other skin conditions. Here’s what the results of a
skin check can indicate or eliminate:
Indications
from Skin Check Results:
○
Melanoma: A type of skin cancer that can be
aggressive and spread to other parts of the body. Early detection is crucial.
○
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): The most common
type of skin cancer, usually appearing as a painless raised area of skin, which
may be shiny or have small blood vessels.
○
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC): Often appears as
a red, scaly, or crusty patch of skin that may be tender or bleed easily.
○
Actinic Keratosis: Rough, scaly patches
caused by sun exposure that can develop into squamous cell carcinoma if not
treated.
○
Moles (Nevi): Normal moles that do
not exhibit signs of melanoma.
○
Seborrheic Keratosis: Non-cancerous growths
that can appear as wart-like, brown, or black lesions.
○
Lentigines (Age Spots): Flat, brown spots that
appear on sun-exposed areas of the skin.
○
Psoriasis: An autoimmune condition
characterized by red, scaly patches.
○
Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis): A condition
causing inflamed, itchy, and red skin.
○
Infections: Such as fungal infections, warts,
or bacterial infections.
Elimination
from Skin Check Results:
○
If no suspicious lesions
are found, the results can provide reassurance that there are no signs of skin
cancer at the time of the exam.
○
Clear skin without any
actinic keratosis or other precancerous changes indicates a lower immediate
risk for developing certain types of skin cancer.
○
Identifying that skin
lesions or moles are benign and not indicative of cancer or other serious
conditions.