Skin Cancer Screening

Skin cancer screening involves checking the skin to find signs of cancer early, when treatment is most effective. The process typically begins with a full-body visual examination by a dermatologist, who inspects the skin for abnormal moles, lesions, or changes in existing skin spots. We also encourage you to do self-exams to monitor your own skin for changes in existing moles or the appearance of new ones.

Who should be screened for skin cancer?

Skin cancer screening is recommended for everyone and is particularly important for individuals at higher risk, including:

• Those with a history of excessive sun exposure, frequent sunburns, or tanning bed use.
• People with fair skin, light hair, and blue or green eyes.
• Individuals with a family history of skin cancer.
• Those who have numerous moles or atypical moles.
• Older adults (since the risk of skin cancer increases with age).

Skin Cancer Diagnosis and Staging

Doctors use several methods to diagnose skin cancer. The primary method is a skin biopsy, where a dermatologist removes a sample of suspicious skin for examination under a microscope. Techniques include shave biopsy (removal of the top layers of the skin), incisional biopsy (removal of a portion of the lesion), and excisional biopsy (removal of the entire lesion).

You may also have one or more of the following noninvasive procedures:

• Dermoscopy: A non-invasive imaging technique using a handheld scope to provide a detailed view of skin lesions.
• Digital or photographic monitoring: Tracking changes in skin lesions over time using high-resolution images.
• Imaging tests (for advanced cancers): Techniques such as CT or PET scans to assess the spread of cancer beyond the skin—a process called staging. Knowing how far the cancer has spread determines the type of treatment needed.