People should not feel they are wasting their dermatologist’s or physician’s time if they are worried about something that could be skin cancer. Catching it early is the key to successful treatment, says Dr. Todd Minars of Minars Dermatology, based in Hollywood, Florida. Here, he explains both what to look for, and why you should never be embarrassed to discuss any health concerns with your dermatologist.
Going to your dermatologist on a regular basis to stay healthy is just a matter of getting a baseline skin exam. You get undressed, the dermatologist examines your skin and looks at your moles. It’s quick, it’s easy, and there’s no need to feel embarrassed.
People have skin exams for a variety of reasons. They include:
- Suspicious-looking moles, growths or any type of skin lesions
- Early signs of skin cancer, such as a new growth, a change in a mole, or a sore or irritation that refuses to heal
- Fifty or more moles around the face and body
- Family history of skin cancer
- Previous personal history of skin cancer
Based on what kind of sun damage you’ve had in the past, your family history and what moles you have, the dermatologist will then come up with a plan in terms of monitoring your skin. That will be once a year or several times a year, depending on those factors.
Whenever the dermatologist sees something suspicious, he or see will either magnify it and look at it closer, or take a piece off and send it to the lab. That will give the patients complete peace of mind to know that everything on their body is safe – or will be treated appropriately.
Not Wasting Doctor’s Time
Nobody should be made to feel inferior or embarrassed to see their dermatologist, and you should never think asking about something that worries you is silly.
The best advice I can give is to follow the rule of thumb that something that is there for more than a month should be looked at by a professional. If you have a mole or something suspicious for just three days, don’t run to your dermatologist. Wait and see if it goes away within a month, and if it doesn’t, then make an immediate appointment.
Most doctors would rather see it and tell you it’s nothing, than have you neglect it and have something that could have been treated early. After all, it only takes two seconds for us look at it, as we are trained to spot anything suspicious right away. And it could save you a lot of trouble down the road.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
