A full-body skin exam at Cascade Eye & Skin Centers is an entire appointment dedicated to checking your body for suspicious skin lesions. Your dermatologist will inspect your body from your head to your toes, paying particular attention to areas that tend to be exposed to harmful, cancer-causing UV radiation from the sun. If they notice a suspicious-looking spot, they will perform a biopsy and submit it to our state-of-the-art skin pathology lab to determine if it is cancerous or benign.
How to Prepare for a Full-Body Skin Exam
It’s essential to note that due to the detailed nature of a full-body skin exam, providers cannot address other concerns during this visit. To prepare for your appointment:
- Make a note of anything new or unusual on your skin
- Remove nail polish from your fingers and toes
- Bring makeup remover or plan not to wear makeup at all
What Does Skin Cancer Look Like?
Your dermatologist at Cascade Eye & Skin Centers is trained to know what to look for during a skin exam. However, patients are encouraged to perform regular skin self-exams to catch abnormalities as soon as possible.
Talk to your dermatologist immediately if any of your moles or pigmented spots exhibit any of the following ABCDEs of melanoma:
