Skin Checks can save Lives

Timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer is crucial for prognosis.

Many patients seek regular specialist skin and mole checks and this can be beneficial for peace of mind, skin health and detecting pre cancer or skin cancer early.

Some of the common factors that increase your risk of skin cancer include:

• previous history of sun damage and or skin cancer.
• family history of skin cancer.
• fair skin type.
• multiple moles or a lot of sun (actinic) damage.
• supressed immune system.
• if you have had a lot of UV exposure, history of sunburn or have used sunbeds.

This list is not comprehensive and skin cancer can occur in all skin types and sites.

Dermatologists are trained in the assessment and diagnosis of skin lesions and skin cancer. Accurate skin lesion assessment and diagnosis requires dermoscopic examination (a specialist magnifying lens with polarised and non polarised light). This can be done in the clinic setting.

Some superficial skin cancers, sun damage and pre cancerous’ lesions can be treated with a topical chemotherapy (cream) or non surgical modalities

If your mole or skin lesion requires surgical excision or removal this is always discussed first (in detail) at consultation to ensure you understand the possible diagnosis, what the procedure entails (and costs involved), recovery and risk of any scarring or adverse outcomes and potential further treatment requirements. These are specific to you individually which is why consultation prior to surgical treatment is important.

Tips:

• If you have photographs or a prior assessment / treatment of a lesion, lump or bump that you are concerned has changed, please bring details of this to the appointment with you.
• If you have treated an area with a cream already, please bring details of the prescription (or packaging if you have this).
• If the area is crusted or scaly, please apply vaseline twice daily for several days prior to your appointment so that any dead skin can gently be lifted and the area of concern can be carefully assessed in clinic.
• Please wear practical clothing so that it is easy to examine the area.

If you are seeking cosmetic removal of a skin lesion in a high street setting (non medical cosmetic or beauty industry) I’d strongly recommend this is checked by a dermatologist first to ensure there is no sign of skin cancer or pre cancer.

Skin Surgery / Procedures 

For further information on skin surgery / procedures click here.