How Often Should You Get a Skin Screening?

Skin cancer is a common and serious skin condition. You need to protect yourself and your skin. A skin screening is an important part of preventive medicine. Dermatologist Dr. Clifford Lober offers comprehensive dermatology services, including skin screenings. He has two convenient office locations in Kissimmee and Ocoee, FL, to help you.

What You Need To Know About Skin Screenings

So, how often should you have a skin screening? You should visit your dermatologist yearly, as part of your preventive care. You may need a skin screening more often if you:

• Have fair skin and freckles
• Sunburn easily and frequently
• Have a previous history of skin cancer
• Have a family history of skin cancer
• Spend extended periods of time out in the sun

When you visit your dermatologist for a skin screening, your dermatologist will check your skin for:

• Scaly, red patches of skin
• Large moles, with a diameter 6 millimeters or larger
• Irregular moles, with ragged, uneven borders
• Recurrent moles, which have grown back after previous removal

If our dermatologist finds any suspicious areas, a skin sample may be taken and sent off for a biopsy to determine if the tissue contains cancerous cells.

In between visits, remember to always wear a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15-30 when you are outside. SPF 50 or greater is advised if you are at greater risk of skin cancer. Reapply sunscreen every few hours, or if you get wet.

Regular skin screenings are important to detect skin cancer in its early stages, when it is more easily treatable. Remember that early diagnosis leads to early treatment, which leads to a better outcome for you.

Want To Know More?

To learn more about skin screenings and how they can help protect you, call Dr. Clifford Lober. You can reach him in the Kissimmee, FL, office by calling (407) 846-7166, or in Ocoee, FL, by calling (407) 656-9700, so call today.