Skin Cancer Screening

How It Works

Patients with risk factors for skin cancer are referred to specialists for this formal procedure. During the screening office visit, patients are handed a gown or blanket and allowed to undress privately to the least clothing possible within their comfort level. During the visit, the provider follows a systematic approach to examine the entire skin, hair, and nails of the patient who is being screened. Patients who decline examination of sensitive areas of the body are advised to monitor these areas closely for new or changing lesions.

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Risk Factors for Skin Cancer

• History of sun exposure
• Indoor tanning bed use (worse if during adolescence)
• Frequent sunburns
• Personal history of any skin cancer
• Family history of melanoma
• Older age
• Male gender
• Light skin tone or eyes
• Freckles
• Immune system compromise (e.g., having another cancer)
• Immune system suppression (e.g., people with organ transplants, those taking azathioprine, voriconazole, natalizumab, etc.)

Dermoscopy

It has become standard for providers to use a portable microscopic device called a dermatoscope. Dermoscopy allows trained providers to see microscopic structures on the skin which correlate with those seen by dermatopathologists under the microscope. Dermatoscopes dramatically improve the ability of providers to detect suspicious spots earlier and to more accurately reassure patients on benign lesions. Skin biopsies are performed, with the patient’s consent, on lesions suspicious for skin cancer and the results are typically communicated to patients within 2 weeks following the visit.