Taking care of your skin is just as important as taking care of all the other parts of your body. Your skin displays more than just your cosmetic health. While you may want to take good care of it to prevent wrinkles and other age-related changes, you should also be motivated to care for it to maintain good overall health. Skin cancer is incredibly common, especially in those with fair skin or in those who are often in the sun. A full body check should be done regularly by a qualified professional to ensure that your skin is problem-free.
What is a Full Body Check?
A full body check is a complete and thorough check of all of your skin across your body from head to toe. It is typically performed by a dermatologist, who is an expert in skin, hair, nails and mucous membranes.
During full body checks at our office, we will be looking for a number of things, but we will be most interested in checking out spots, such as moles. We will look at your scalp, face, eyes, arms, torso, legs and feet and even the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet. In some cases, you may have an even more thorough examination. This is often the case if you have noticed any unusual changes in specific areas or if you are a skin cancer survivor.
If the dermatologist finds anything concerning during the check, it will be noted. By monitoring it over the next few checks, the doctor can see if the spot changes at all or if it remains the same. In addition, the doctor may choose to do a biopsy of the spot. This involves taking a very small sample of the mole.
How Often Should the Check Be Done?
For most adults who are generally healthy, this check should be done once per year. This annual examination is particularly important if you have very fair skin or red hair, which puts you at increased risk of skin cancer. However, all adults should be having regular examinations.
Whether you suspect that you have skin cancer or you simply haven’t had a skin check in over a year, make an appointment at the office of Ingrid E. Trenkle, MD, located in Sun City and Redlands. Contact us today to book your check-up!
