Skin Checks

The main cause of skin cancer is skin cells damaged by UV rays emitted by the sun. With our dissipating ozone, more damaging rays are making it to the earth, where they are absorbed by our skin cells and damage DNA.

Skin cancer prevention is, therefore, a matter of protecting your skin from these damaging UV rays by wearing protective clothing, hats and sunscreen when outside or near reflective surfaces like windows or water.

Some skin cancers couldn’t have been prevented, but sun damage is the most common, preventable reason. Your best UV protection methods include:

• Proper, regular application of a high-SPF sunscreen
• Wearing long, loose sleeves and long pants or dresses
• Wearing a wide-brimmed hat
• Making sure you are getting plenty of vitamin D through supplementation or other means (no sun exposure means no vitamin D production)

Your best next step is to see your GP who can refer you to our specialist clinic, or you can simply call and make an appointment with us directly. There is no need to get a referral in most cases; however, it can pay to take advantage of Medicare rebates in certain situations.

Getting regular skin checks, especially if you see a mole changing its appearance, is critical for catching any issues quickly and dealing with them promptly. Unchecked lesions can continue to develop without treatment, leading to potentially worse outcomes.

Certain predisposing factors can run in families, for example, having very fair skin or many moles. These factors don’t mean you will develop skin cancers, but if you are in a high-risk group, regular skin check-ups are essential.

Check around in your family to get an idea of what your familial risk factors are. See your specialist dermatologist for regular checks and receive a further analysis of your risk factors.

It’s never too early to start caring about your skin and keeping tabs on moles. When we’re young, we don’t have as many moles, but as we get older, mole numbers increase. Start now!

We develop cancerous tumours throughout the body constantly, but our immune system kicks into gear and eradicates them. It’s only when a tumour gets out of control that the body can’t hit CTRL+Z.

It is therefore unusual for skin cancer to resolve on its own once it reaches a certain point, which is way beyond what the body can cope with on its own. It is best to get immediate, thorough treatment, especially for melanomas, which can be deadly.

We do not recommend home remedies for skin lesions. Accurate diagnosis and treatment with scientific evidence behind it is the most reliable treatment. Treating yourself at home with unproven remedies could be dangerous to your health, especially if you have a melanoma that has spread to other tissue in your body.

While home remedies may be cheap and seem like a good idea, we recommend you visit the clinic for an accurate diagnosis and treatment options. Waiting for longer while you try to cure a lesion at home on your own may result in precious time wasted. Need a skin check? Book now.

When we take a biopsy, we are taking a small amount of tissue as a sample. By its very nature, this sample-taking requires us to break the skin, which causes minor discomfort. We use an anaesthetic cream to make your biopsy as comfortable as possible. Most people find the process very tolerable and thankfully it’s very quick. We only take a very small amount of tissue.

A biopsy breaks the skin to take a sample, so it does require healing over with scar tissue. The biopsied area is very small, however, so the scar will fade quickly and naturally over time. We do not expect a lasting visible scar from a biopsy and will offer you our healing tips to ensure a seamless mend.

If you have keloid scarring develop from any break in the skin, a very red or purple raised scar, then make sure you tell us beforehand so we can take precautions.

Assessments and tests will determine the treatment most appropriate for you. Each type of cancer has specific ‘best’ treatments, but the grade of cancer will be of the most importance in terms of treatment.

The most common treatment is first to remove the lesion. More extensive treatments may be required, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, especially if the cancer has spread. Most cancers are easily removed with no more treatment required, but frequent check-ups are important.

The first treatment of removal of the lesion doesn’t come with any side-effects besides regular healing, but chemotherapy and radiation therapy come with a whole host of side-effects that range from tolerable/merely unpleasant to downright awful.

Your side-effects are related to the chosen treatment since there are many kinds of chemotherapy and dosing. Talk to your doctor about what to expect from treatments. Book a consultation with us.

Sometimes skin cancers can return at the same site or a different place. Regular checks can help keep tabs on your skin. Book a skin check now.

Each treatment comes with a unique risk profile, so speak to your doctor about what to expect. We’ll fully inform you of what to look out for, in the case that something unusual occurs.

A lesion going undiagnosed and untreated is the greatest risk. It may turn out to be nothing, but it’s better to know.

You do not need a referral to visit our clinic for a mole or skin check; however, in some cases, it’s smart to get a referral from your doctor to make the most of Medicare benefits.

We will take a biopsy and may remove the lesion in your appointment. If the biopsy comes back clear, then we do nothing. If the biopsy seems suspicious, we will offer treatment.

Once the lab has your biopsy sample, they will process it. We expect 1-2 weeks usually, but we will advise you of how quickly the lab will process your test and give us the results. We’ll call you to schedule another appointment unless you’ve already made one, to discuss your results.

When you come into the clinic for a full skin check, we need to be able to see your bare skin to get an accurate visual check. You may need to fully or partially undress; however, we’ll work with you if you are shy, to make sure you are very comfortable. If you want a doctor of a specific gender, we will make sure that happens. You keep your underwear and bra on.

No, mole mapping is a fully external visual examination with nothing to cause any pain.

If you have a suspicious lesion, you will need to come back for your results. If you are having treatment, we will need regular check-up appointments. We recommend annual check-ups for everyone.