What Happens During a Full Skin Check?

A full skin check is more than simply looking for unusual moles. It is a systematic assessment of your skin, taking into account your individual risk factors, previous sun exposure, and personal and family history of skin cancer.

At the beginning of your appointment, your doctor will take a detailed history. This includes any previous skin cancers or abnormal moles, family history of melanoma or other skin cancers, your history of sun exposure and significant sunburns, and any particular spots or skin changes that have concerned you.

After taking your history, the skin examination begins. You will be asked to undress to your level of comfort. Typically, women remain in their bra and underwear and men remain in their underwear. At SKEEN, a female chaperone can be arranged for female patients. Areas normally covered by underwear can also be examined when clinically appropriate and with your consent.

Your doctor then systematically examines the skin, rather than simply looking at individual moles. Suspicious or unusual lesions are examined more closely using dermoscopy, a specialised form of skin microscopy that allows us to see structures and patterns beneath the surface of the skin that cannot be adequately assessed with the naked eye. Specialised lighting, including a Wood’s lamp, may also be used when appropriate.

At SKEEN in Spring Hill, this examination can be complemented by advanced imaging technology. Vectra 3D total-body imaging creates a detailed three-dimensional record of the skin and can assist with monitoring lesions and identifying changes over time. VISIA imaging may also be used when appropriate to assess features of facial skin that are not always obvious under normal lighting.

If anything suspicious is identified, your doctor will explain what has been found and whether it should simply be monitored, photographed, biopsied or treated. Where appropriate, treatment options can also be discussed during the same consultation.

A good skin check should also leave you better informed about your own skin. We discuss what changes to look for, which lesions deserve attention, sun protection, and how frequently you should have future skin checks based on your individual risk.

The aim is not simply to find skin cancer. It is to understand your skin, establish an accurate baseline and identify important changes as early as possible.