Skin Cancer Screening / Total Body Exam
A Skin Cancer Screening or Total Body Exam is a dermatologist’s comprehensive visual check of your entire skin surface for signs of skin cancer or other concerning lesions. The screening involves a head-to-toe examination while you are in a gown. If a suspicious spot is found, a biopsy to collect a tissue sample may be performed for lab analysis. Treatment for skin cancer, if detected, depends on the type and stage, but can include surgical excision, Mohs surgery, electrodessication and curettage.
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and malignant melanoma are types of skin cancer, with BCC and SCC being more common but less dangerous, and melanoma being less common but more life-threatening if not caught early.
Surgical removal is common, using methods such as standard excision, shave excision, Mohs surgery, curettage and electrodesiccation, or sometimes cryosurgery or topical creams for superficial lesions.