A skin check is a full-body examination performed by a dermatologist to look for the earliest signs of skin cancer, often before you would ever notice a change yourself. It is quick, painless, and one of the most protective health measures you can take each year.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and it is also among the most treatable when it is found early. The difficulty is that early skin cancers rarely announce themselves. They can look like an ordinary mole, a small pink patch, or a spot you have had for years. At McLean & Potomac Dermatology, our providers examine your skin from scalp to soles with dermoscopy, a specialized magnifying tool that reveals detail the eye cannot see, so that anything concerning is identified while it is still small and simple to address.
Schedule your skin check at our McLean or Potomac location today.
What Is a Skin Check?
A skin check, also called a full-body skin exam or skin cancer screening, is a head-to-toe visual examination of your skin, moles, and any spots that have changed. Your provider evaluates each area systematically, including places that are easy to overlook such as the scalp, behind the ears, between the toes, the back, and the nail beds.
The appointment is thorough but painless. There are no needles, no incisions, and no downtime. Most patients are in and out in under half an hour and return to the rest of their day immediately.
If your provider sees something that warrants a closer look, they will discuss it with you during the same visit and explain the options clearly, so you leave with a plan rather than a question mark.
How Often Should You Have a Skin Check?
Our providers recommend an annual skin exam for every adult. If you have a personal or family history of skin cancer, you may be advised to come in every three to six months instead.
You may benefit from more frequent skin checks if you have:
- A personal history of melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, or squamous cell carcinoma
- A family history of skin cancer, particularly melanoma
- A large number of moles, or moles that are atypical in appearance
- Fair skin, light eyes, or a tendency to burn rather than tan
- A history of significant sun exposure, sunburns, or tanning bed use
- A suppressed immune system, including following an organ transplant
Between visits, you are the most important part of your own surveillance. A quick monthly look at your own skin, using a mirror for your back and the backs of your legs, is often how a changing spot is first noticed.
What Causes Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer develops when skin cells are damaged, most often by ultraviolet radiation from the sun or from tanning beds, and begin to grow abnormally. Several factors contribute, including cumulative sun exposure, a history of blistering sunburns, and genetics.
Moles play a particular role. People develop moles in youth and often continue to develop them with age, and the tendency to form them is largely genetic. Genetics also influences whether a mole may evolve into a cancerous spot. Studies show that the risk of melanoma quadruples in people who have a high number of moles, which is why mole mapping and monitoring are central to what happens during your exam.
How to Identify an Irregular Mole: The ABCDEs
The ABCDEs are a simple tool you can use at home to recognize a mole that should be evaluated by a provider.
A is for Asymmetry. If you draw an imaginary line through the mole, the two halves do not match. Asymmetry is a warning sign of melanoma.
B is for Border. The borders of an early melanoma tend to be uneven, with edges that appear scalloped or notched rather than smooth.
C is for Color. A variety of colors within one spot is a warning signal. You may see several shades of brown, tan, or black, and a melanoma may also take on red, white, or blue tones.
D is for Diameter. Melanomas are usually larger in diameter than a pencil eraser, roughly 6 millimeters, though they can be smaller when detected early.
E is for Evolving. Any change matters. A change in size, shape, color, or elevation, or a new symptom such as bleeding, itching, or crusting, suggests the mole should be evaluated.
If a spot on your skin meets any of these criteria, schedule an appointment. You do not need to wait for your annual exam.
What Happens During Your Skin Check Appointment?
Before the exam. You will change into a gown or drape so your provider can examine your skin completely. It is helpful to arrive without makeup and with nail polish removed, since melanoma can develop under the nails. If you have a specific spot you are worried about, mention it at the start.
During the exam. Your provider examines your skin systematically, evaluating individual moles and lesions with a dermatoscope, a specialized microscope that magnifies and illuminates the structures beneath the surface. This allows many benign spots to be confidently identified as benign, which means fewer unnecessary procedures.
After the exam. Your provider will tell you what they found. In most cases, the answer is that everything looks healthy and you should return in a year. If a spot is concerning, they will explain what they are seeing and recommend next steps.
What Happens If Something Is Found?
If a lesion appears irregular, your provider will recommend sampling it so it can be examined under a microscope by a pathologist. This is the only way to know with certainty whether a spot is benign.
Biopsy. A small sample of the lesion is removed after the area is numbed with local anesthetic. Most biopsies take only a few minutes and require nothing more than a bandage afterward.
Excision. For lesions that require complete removal, the spot and a small margin of surrounding skin are removed. Depending on the lesion, this may happen at the same visit or be scheduled after biopsy results are back. Your provider will explain which applies to you. A dressing is applied afterward, and you can return to the rest of your day, avoiding strenuous exercise and activity while the area heals. We review pre- and post-treatment care with you in advance.
Testing. Samples are sent for pathology to confirm the diagnosis and, in the case of a cancerous lesion, to verify that the margins are clear and all of the cancer was removed. Your provider will review the results with you and discuss skin cancer treatment options if further care is needed.
Learn more about mole removal and skin cancer treatments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a skin check covered by insurance?
A skin check for skin cancer surveillance is a medical visit, and medical visits are typically billed to your health insurance rather than paid out of pocket like a cosmetic treatment. Coverage, deductibles, and copays vary by plan, and some plans treat a screening exam differently from a visit for a specific concerning spot. We recommend contacting your insurance carrier to confirm your benefits, and our team is happy to help you understand what to ask.
How much does a skin check cost without insurance?
For patients paying out of pocket, the cost depends on the length and complexity of the visit and whether any procedures, such as a biopsy, are performed the same day. Please contact our office and our team will walk you through current self-pay pricing before you schedule.
Does a skin check hurt?
No. The exam itself is entirely painless. It is a visual examination with a magnifying instrument, and nothing touches your skin in a way you would find uncomfortable. If a biopsy is recommended, the area is numbed with local anesthetic first.
How long does a skin check take?
Most full-body skin exams take about 15 minutes or less. You are typically in and out within half an hour.
What should I wear or bring to a skin check?
Wear something easy to change out of, since you will be in a gown or drape for the exam. Bring a list of any spots you have been watching, and let your provider know about any personal or family history of skin cancer.
How often should I get a skin check?
Once a year for most adults. If you have a personal or family history of skin cancer, your provider may recommend more frequent examinations, such as every three to six months.
What is the difference between a skin check and a mole removal appointment?
A skin check is an examination of your entire skin surface to look for anything concerning. A mole removal is a procedure to remove a specific spot. Many patients begin with a skin check, and a removal is scheduled only if the exam identifies a lesion that warrants it.
Can a skin check detect all types of skin cancer?
A full-body exam with dermoscopy is the most effective tool for identifying basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma at an early stage. No exam catches everything, which is why annual visits combined with monthly self-checks at home offer the strongest protection.
Do I need a referral for a skin check?
Most patients can schedule directly with us. Some insurance plans require a referral from a primary care physician, so it is worth confirming with your carrier before your visit.
Should I get a skin check if I have no moles or spots I am worried about?
Yes. Early skin cancers frequently appear in places you cannot easily see, such as the scalp, the back, and the backs of the legs, and many do not look alarming at first. The purpose of an annual exam is to find what you would not have found on your own.
Schedule Your Skin Check
Early detection is the single most effective thing you can do about skin cancer. Our board-certified providers offer full-body skin exams at our McLean, Virginia and Potomac, Maryland locations.
Call us at 703-356-5111 or request an appointment online to schedule your skin check today.
