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Total Body Skin ExaminationTotal body skin examinations are performed by dermatologists (skin doctors) or other trained health care providers to search for any unusual or suspicious lesions or conditions on the skin surface. When examining people at high risk for skin cancer, dermatologists search for atypical or abnormal-looking moles that could be melanoma, and they also check previous any skin biopsy sites for signs of recurrence. Who needs a total body skin examination?People who have changing, worrisome, or numerous moles; anyone with a personal or a family history of melanoma or either kind of non-melanoma skin cancer - basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma. How is a total body skin examination performed?The dermatologist will examine your entire skin surface, so you will be asked to remove all of your clothing and to put on a hospital gown. Your modesty will be respected at all times as the physician examines one part of your body at a time. The most complete total body skin examination will include an examination of your hands and arms, legs and feet (including between the toes and the soles of the feet), and torso, as well as your scalp, the insides of your mouth, and the external genital area. Melanoma can arise anywhere on the skin surface, even in places that have never been exposed to the sun. How often should a person have a total body skin examination?Your dermatologist will suggest a follow-up schedule for routine total body skin exams based on what he or she finds during your exam and based on your personal and family history. How do I make an appointment for a total body skin examination?Patients may call 585-0100 or toll free 1-866-275-0243 to schedule a total body skin examination with a physician from Huntsman Cancer Institute. |
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