SKIN CANCER CHECKS
Full body mole check
Head-to-toe skin examination by a doctor to examine spots of concern and detect skin cancers you may not have noticed.
- Performed by doctors with skin cancer qualifications
- Dermoscopic examination of the entire body
- Photography of any moles of interest
A full body skin check at Spot Check takes 20-40 minutes, depending on how many moles you have and how they appear.
Your skin check may include digital analysis of any spots of concern and/or limited body mapping photography (1 or 2 regions) at no extra cost.
You’ll have ongoing access to all photos, pathology results and information about your conditions and treatments via a shared medical record.
By the time you leave, you will have a good idea of:
- Your risk of skin cancer.
- Whether you have any abnormal or suspicious spots or moles.
- If you need to return to have any abnormal spots re-checked or removed.
- How frequently you should have your skin checked in future.
Who should have a skin cancer check?
A yearly full body skin cancer examination is recommended for people:
- With a history of any type of skin cancer or “pre-cancer”, including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, solar keratoses and dysplastic moles.
- With medical risk factors for skin cancer.
- With a family history (parents, brothers, sisters or children) of melanoma.
- Who have ever used a solarium (especially if more than ten times).
- With medical conditions or medications that increase skin cancer risk (usually conditions or medications that affect the immune system).
- With more than 100 moles.
- With fair/white skin who are 40 or older.
Some people at especially high risk (for example, with a recent history of melanoma, or many previous skin cancers) are advised to have a skin cancer check more frequently than once per year.
Why have a full body skin check?
Studies have shown that during a full body skin check, dermatologists and skin doctors often detect skin cancers that have not yet been noticed by the patient (Jiang 2021).
People with melanomas detected at routine full body skin checks tend to live longer than those with self-detected melanomas (Watts 2021).
MBBS, MA (Virtual Comm), Grad Cert Hlth Info, Grad Dip Comp Inf Sci
How it’s done
A full skin check might take a couple of visits to complete. If there are slightly abnormal-looking spots, your doctor may decide to photograph them and re-photograph them after a few months. You should consider this review part of the overall check-up process.
If you would like mole mapping, otherwise known as full-body photography, our nurse or clinician might do it before the doctor examines you, or the doctor might take the mole mapping photos (Note: there is an extra charge for mole mapping. Mole mapping must be booked in advance; it can add 20-30 minutes to your total appointment time).
Your doctor will check with you before examining your buttocks (and breasts if you are a woman). Skin cancers are unusual in these areas, so if you are more comfortable not having them checked, it’s unlikely any cancers will be missed. Skin cancers are rare on the genitals, so this is not a routine part of the examination. The doctor will examine your scalp, but bear in mind that if you have long hair, it might not be possible to see all the spots there.
Some spots may need to be biopsied, which can sometimes be done during your consultation. Others need a complete excision procedure with stitches, and this might need to be scheduled for another appointment. Most spots will be very low risk and can be left in place. Your doctor may recommend further photography or imaging in 3-6 months to check for any small suspicious changes in these low-risk spots.
Learn more
How to prepare
Booked your first skin check? Here’s what to do next.
Complete the form at least 24 hours before your appointment to give us adequate time to create your records and consider your skin cancer risk factors.
We need to have the best possible visibility for examining and photographing your skin. Please don’t wear make-up, fake tan or nail polish, and make sure your skin is clean.
If you’ve had a skin cancer previously, bring a copy of the pathology result. If you’ve had photos taken of your spots or body regions previously, ask your previous skin cancer clinic if they can provide these photos in electronic format. We can usually incorporate any previous photos into your medical record.
What to expect
A full skin check might take a couple of visits to complete. If there are slightly abnormal-looking spots, your doctor may decide to photograph them and re-photograph them after a few months. You should consider this review part of the overall check-up process.
During your first visit for a full-body skin check, this is what to expect:
- A doctor or nurse will check the details of your general medical history, overall health, medications, allergies and other medical subjects that might affect your risk of developing skin cancer and influence the tests and treatments that should be performed. You will also be asked about your skin cancer risk factors, such as a history of sunburns and solarium use and skin cancers in your family. Note: We ask that you complete a medical history form before your appointment to provide these details; this gives you time to properly consider your answers and reduces the amount of time you need to spend at the clinic filling in forms.
- Based on your medical history and risk factors, your doctor or nurse will advise you of your skin cancer risk and how often you should be checked in future.
- Before examining your skin, your doctor will leave the room so you can get undressed in private. You will need to remove all clothing and most of your jewellery. You will be able to keep wearing your underwear. After undressing, you can wear a disposable paper gown or a dressing gown to cover up.
The doctor will return to the room to examine you. If you would like mole mapping, otherwise known as full-body photography, this is normally done first. See the mole mapping page for information about this process. (Note: There is an extra charge for mole mapping. Mole mapping must be booked in advance; it can add 20-30 minutes to your total appointment time.) - Next, the doctor will examine your individual spots close-up. Depending on your doctor, you might start in a sitting, standing or lying position. The doctor will systematically examine your body, looking closely at any moles, spots or lumps of interest. This examination is performed using a dermoscope – a medical instrument that lights up and magnifies your skin. The light is polarised, so it can more easily penetrate the top layer of skin, allowing the doctor to see features that would not otherwise be visible.
- Your doctor will check with you before examining your buttocks (and breasts if you are a woman). Skin cancers are unusual in these areas, so if you are more comfortable not having them checked, it’s unlikely any cancers will be missed. Skin cancers are rare on the genitals, so this is not a routine part of the examination. The doctor will examine your scalp, but bear in mind that if you have long hair, it might not be possible for them to see all the spots there.
- During the examination, the doctor will note any spots with unusual colouring, shapes or other features. Sometimes, they can identify a skin cancer just by examining it, but in most cases, they will identify relatively low-risk spots (probably not skin cancers), which should be tracked over time for any suspicious changes. The doctor or a nurse will photograph these spots using a dermoscopic camera.
- After your photos have been taken, the doctor or nurse will allow you to get dressed in private.
- The doctor will then discuss your spots and photographs. They will show you the features and digital analysis of the most interesting or suspicious ones and advise on the best follow-up. Some spots may need to be biopsied, which can often be done on the spot. Others need a complete excision procedure with stitches, and this might need to be scheduled for another appointment. Most spots will be very low risk and can be left in place. Your doctor usually recommends further photography or imaging in 3-6 months to check for any small suspicious changes in these low-risk spots.
What else do I need to know?
Sometimes a skin cancer can be missed at the first examination, if it is very early and the dermoscopic signs of cancer are not clear. If a spot grows or changes after being examined by a doctor, you should have it re-examined.
After your skin check, you should have a plan to manage current issues (e.g. skin cancers, suspicious spots, rashes), enable early diagnosis of skin cancers if they occur, reduce your risk of new skin cancers developing and treat existing sun damage to your skin.
More infoIf you have a very high risk of melanoma and more than 100 moles, you should consider having mole mapping every year. There is evidence that mole mapping can allow earlier detection of melanoma in high-risk patients and therefore improve the chances of successful treatment.
More infoMole mapping adds to the cost of a skin cancer check and people often feel uncomfortable being photographed while they are nearly naked, so it's understandable to ask if molemapping is worth the expense and trouble. The answer isn't always straightforward; for some people, regular mole mapping is highly recommended, and for others, it doesn't have significant clinical benefits.
More infoIn a single mole check, a doctor closely examines a spot or lump of concern that you've identified. Typically, the doctor will examine it using a dermoscope and possibly high-magnification digital photography to aid in diagnosis. At Spot Check Clinic, we can perform biopsies of suspicious spots or lumps and treat most skin cancers.
More infoMoles can be removed without surgery. This can be a quick, relatively painless and low-scarring way of removing moles. Non-surgical techniques include IPL, laser, cryotherapy, radiofrequency, and electrosurgery. These procedures aren't suitable for all moles. Any mole that resembles a melanoma must be surgically removed.
More infoIf you've booked a full body skin check in conjunction with your mole mapping appointment, your skin will be examined by an experienced skin cancer doctor and individual moles or lesions will be examined and photographed dermoscopically.
More info
References
Jiang A, Jefferson IS, Robinson SK, Griffin D, Adams W, Speiser J, Winterfield L, Peterson A, Tung-Hahn E, Lee K, Surprenant D, Coakley A, Tung R, Alam M. Skin cancer discovery during total body skin examinations. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2021 May 30;7(4):411-414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijwd.2021.05.005
Watts CGMcLoughlin KGoumas C, et al. Association Between Melanoma Detected During Routine Skin Checks and Mortality. JAMA Dermatol. 2021;157(12):1425–1436. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/fullarticle/2785614
Meet our team
Our doctors, nurses and dermal clinicians have qualified experience in managing skin cancer, skin conditions and selecting and providing aesthetic treatments.
Dr Chris Miller
Dr Chris Miller is a primary care skin cancer doctor, and principal doctor at Spot Check Clinic, since 2017.
Dr Sahar Shirkhanloo
Sahar is a skin cancer doctor committed to the early detection and surgical intervention of skin cancers.
Valerie Tra
Valerie is a registered nurse with qualifications and extensive experience in dermal therapies.
Courtney S
Courtney has been immersed in healthcare administration since 2006, serving diverse medical specialties in Australia and abroad.
Dusko Lapcevic
Dusko played a key role in establishing Spot Check Clinic alongside Dr. Miller.
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Skin cancers detected at skin checks are diagnosed at an earlier stage and are easier to treat successfully.
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