May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and we can’t think of a better time to talk about something we bring up with patients every single day: the value of a regular skin exam.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, but here’s the good news we want every patient to hear. When we catch it early, it’s also one of the most treatable. The trick is knowing when to start having your skin checked, how often to come in, and what to keep an eye on between visits.
How Often Do You Really Need a Skin Exam?
For most adults, we recommend an annual full-body skin exam with a board-certified dermatologist.
That said, some patients need to be seen more often, usually every six months, and you may fall into that group if you have:
- A personal history of skin cancer
- A history of atypical or abnormal moles
- A strong family history of skin cancer
- Significant sun exposure or a history of tanning bed use
Skin exams aren’t one-size-fits-all. When you come in, we build a schedule around your skin, your history, and your risk, not a generic calendar.
When Should You Start?
There’s no magic age for your first skin exam, but a lot of patients start coming in for annual checks in their 20s or 30s, especially if they have any of the risk factors above.
Here’s what we always tell people: don’t wait for a “right age” if something on your skin is bothering you. Skin cancer can show up at any age, and getting something looked at early is never the wrong call.
What to Watch for Between Visits
Even when you’re seeing us regularly, what you notice at home in between really matters.
The most common skin cancer we see is basal cell carcinoma, and it tends to look a lot more innocent than people expect. It’s not always the dramatic, dark, irregular mole you see in the brochures.
Things we want you to pay attention to:
- A new pink spot, or one that looks a little shiny or pearly
- A flat patch or small bump that just won’t go away
- A spot that looks like a pimple but is still there a month later
- A lesion that slowly grows over time
- Anything that bleeds easily or doesn’t heal
The phrase we hear more than any other in my exam room is, “I thought it was just a pimple.” If a spot has been hanging around for more than four to six weeks, especially somewhere the sun hits regularly, please come let us take a look.
When to Pick Up the Phone
You don’t need to wait for your annual appointment if something feels off. Call us if you notice:
- A new spot, or one that’s changing
- A lesion that won’t heal
- Bleeding, crusting, or persistent irritation
- Anything that just doesn’t look or feel right to you
Trust your gut. Early detection truly makes all the difference, and we’d much rather see you for something that turns out to be nothing than have you wait on something that turns out to be something.
The Bottom Line
Regular skin exams are one of the simplest, most effective things you can do for your long-term skin health.
- Most adults: once a year
- Higher-risk patients: every six months, or as we recommend
- Anything concerning: get it checked right away
Healthy skin starts with paying attention and having a team in your corner who knows your skin as well as you do.
