Skin Cancer Screenings
Midwest Medical Specialists recommends that everyone undergo a clinical skin exam once a year - or more often if they have a history of abnormal exams. A clinical skin exam is painless, essentially a visual exam of the skin from the top of the head to the bottom of the feet.
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| An annual head to toe visual exam is essential to maintain skin health and to diagnose skin cancer at its earliest stages. |
In between professional exams, we recommend that all patients perform regular self-exams in a well-lit room using a full-length mirror, a hand mirror and a comb or brush. Get to know the blemishes and other spots on your skin, taking note of size, shape and color. If you detect any changes, be sure to make an appointment with your MMS dermatologist.
Remember, potentially cancerous growths can occur anywhere on your body - even in places never exposed to the sun. In fact, some skin cancers are not even caused by sun exposure.
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| Between annual exams, if you see anything suspicious, be sure to see your dermatologist immediately. Photo courtesy of: LEA PATERSON / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY |
Be suspicious if you see:
- New red or darker colored rough-patches or nodules
- New firm, flesh-colored bumps
- Unexplained bleeding sores that don't heal after 2 to 3 weeks
- A change in the size, shape, color, or feel of a mole (especially if it is painful or itchy, growing in size to larger than 6 millimeters across, irregularly shaped, multi-colored, or appears to have a ragged border)
