Some Facts About Skin Cancer Clinic Melbourne

You visit a doctor every year for a check-up, and schedule regular teeth cleaning with your dentist but what about the dermatologist? Dermatologists are trained in detecting skin cancer, the common form of cancer in the US. Skin cancers are treatable especially when they are caught early, so having skin cancer screening is an important part of the Health Care routine. Visit Sundoctors.com.au for better skin screening at Skin Cancer Clinic Melbourne. 

Any adult who has never had one should consider scheduling a full-body skin exam to establish a baseline and discuss whether or how often, regular skin checks are important.

 Annual skin exams are recommended for a person who has –

•     History of Melanoma, skin cancers, or precancerous skin lesions.
•     Has a first-degree relative who has had Melanoma
•     Has a large number of moles or history of typical moles.
•     Has a history of tanning bed use
•     Has a history of blistering sunburns
•     Has a history of significant sun exposure through activities such as living in a Sunny location or boating or occupations like landscaping or construction
•     Is an organ transplant recipient

What To Expect – Skin Cancer Screening

Your appointment involves a thorough examination of your skin – from the top of your scalp to the bottom of your feet by a Dermatologist. They look for suspicious spots that may be cancerous. There are three types of skin cancer – basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and Melanoma. They look different, the most common warning sign of any kind of skin cancer is a change on the skin, such as new growth or visible change in an existing growth or mole.

 Make a note of any spots on your skin and be sure to bring them up before your doctor gets started.

The provider has a particular pattern with which the look at all of the skin systematically. They may use bright light or hand and magnification tools called a dermatoscope to look at the skin lesions in more detail.

To make it as simple as possible Dermatologist recommends that you do the following before the appointment-

•     Remove all the makeup
•     Remove any braces, bandages or other things that are covering the skin
•     Do not put on any jewelry

 If the doctor does not find anything suspicious then the exam should not take more than 15 minutes.

 What Happens If They Find Something?

If the doctor finds a spot which could be cancerous or precancerous, they will want to take a picture of the medical chart and perform a skin biopsy.

During the biopsy, the doctor removes a small amount of tissue to be examined under a microscope by your pathologist. This simple procedure can be done right then. They clean the area of skin where the spot is located, numb it with an injection of anesthesia, and use a blade or scalpel to take a sample of the skin. You should not feel any pain except the pinch from the injection. Then the sample is sent to the lab for testing and your doctor will share the results with you when the results are available. This happens within a few days but it can take up to a week or longer. If the spot is cancerous, it may require to be completely removed or treated with other methods.

 Irrespective of how often you see the Dermatologist, you should do your best to monitor your own skin and of your partner or close family members. You can grab a mirror and perform skin exams of your own every six months. Above all practice safe sun habits to prevent skin cancer from developing in the first place.