Skin Checks and Screening

Be sure to see your dermatologist regularly for skin check-ups.
We recommend skin cancer screening twice a year!

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the most common cancer in the world is skin cancer. There is more than one type of skin cancer, however, some of which are more dangerous or more easily treated than others. The most common types of skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.

Because skin cancers come in all shapes, sizes and colors, it is important to see a dermatologist at the first sign of unusual changes in the skin. Cancer may present itself as a rash, a sore, a scaly patch of skin, a scar with a waxy texture, a growth beneath the skin or even a pimple that doesn’t seem to go away. It is also common for skin cancer to have an appearance similar to a mole or to start within a mole.

Skin cancer often occurs in areas of the skin that have been damaged by the sun, radiation or chemical exposure, although they may occur anywhere on the body – including in the mouth. Fortunately, there are many highly effective treatments for skin cancer, including surgical removal of the cancer, topical treatment, cryosurgery, immunotherapy and photodynamic therapy. In some cases, radiation and chemotherapy are necessary to treat advanced skin cancers.

Go back to Dermatology Patient Education