During a full body skin exam, your dermatologist will examine moles and other skin conditions. You want it to be a complete and thorough examination, right? That means you should remove all of your undergarments, including your underwear, bra, undershirt and socks before lying on the table.
Next, your dermatologist will examine you from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet – including between your buttocks and between your legs. Usually, the doctor will use a hand-held instrument called a dermatoscope, which magnifies moles and other skin growths that look unusual.
During the exam, point out things to the doctor that concern you, such as any moles or other marks that have grown, changed, bled, or become itchy.
When the skin exam is over, you should expect to hear that you had a perfectly normal skin exam. If anything looks suspicious, it will be biopsied. This will involve sending the specimen to a dermatopathology lab for evaluation.
Do I need a full body skin exam every year?
Well, it depends. If you’re someone who has lots and lots of moles, you want to get a full body skin exam at least every year. It can be hard for you to keep track of any changes.
You might even want to have baseline photos taken of your moles so that your dermatologist can compare what they see during the exam with older photos. (Talk to your dermatologist about this.)
Most people don’t need to have a yearly skin exam, but obviously if you notice a mole changing or something new that appears, it’s a good idea to have it looked at.
If you choose to do a self-exam, look for the ABCDEs of melanoma. But remember, this doesn’t substitute for a full exam by a board-certified dermatologist.
Be aware that there are many types of growths on the skin, both benign and malignant. Be on the lookout for spots that never seem to heal, that change in size or shape, or bleed. There may be harmless growths on the skin that are of no concern and your dermatologist should point these out to you during your exam as well.
We often like to comment as we examine you, giving you the names of the various things we see. You may find it fun to learn the actual medical names for what you might call “a barnacle” – you never know when it could help you on the New York Times crossword puzzle!
It’s never too late to schedule an exam
We’re not going to shame you if it’s been five years since you last had a full body skin exam. We always say, “Better late than never!” Call us today to schedule an appointment at 212-288-8222.
