Full body skin exams are the best way to detect skin cancer early, saving lives and minimizing the amount of treatment needed. Alta Vista Dermatology offers full body skin exams to the residents of Denver, Highlands Ranch, and the surrounding areas of Colorado.
What is a Full Body Skin Exam?
At Alta Vista Dermatology, a full body skin exam involves one of our board-certified medical professionals examining the entire body from head to toe. The examination includes the ears, scalp, soles of the feet, and between the toes. Your medical provider will examine growths, moles, or lesions that you may have noticed as well as spots, freckles, or moles that may be of concern. Our patients find peace of mind after having full body skin examinations. During your appointment we carefully listen to concerns, and answer any questions you may have so you are confident in the health of your skin.
How Often Should I Have a Full Body Skin Exam?
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, there are about 700,000 cases of squamous cell carcinoma and 2 million cases of basal cell carcinoma every year. One person dies of melanoma every 58 minutes in the United States. With statistics like these, it is critical to have full body skin examinations at a minimum of once a year. We also recommend monthly self-examinations. These can help you find any new or changing lesions that may be precancerous or cancerous. It is important to look for a skin growth that appears pearly, brown, black, tan, or multicolored. If a skin growth increases in size or an open sore does not heal within three weeks, it is important to schedule a skin exam as soon as possible. If a sore or spot continues to itch, scab, or bleed, it should also be addressed by our team.
How Can I Avoid Skin Cancer?
One of the best ways to avoid skin cancer is wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher every day when outdoors. It is important to apply the sunscreen before going outside so it can soak into the skin. It should be reapplied every two hours and more frequently when swimming or sweating.
What if Skin Cancer is Detected During My Skin Exam?
In the event that we discover a cancerous growth during your full body skin exam, we will immediately recommend skin cancer treatment. In most cases, when cancer is detected early, these treatments are easy on the body and require minimal recovery. This is why it’s essential to keep up with your regular cancer screenings and perform self-examinations on a regular basis.
If you are concerned that you are developing precancerous or cancerous growths, contact us today to schedule your full body skin exam. We recommend yearly examinations to minimize the chance of skin cancer developing into more severe stages. Alta Vista Dermatology offers skin examinations and other skin cancer services to men and women living in Highlands Ranch and Denver, CO.
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