Why are you waiting to have that mole checked? People don’t have a mole checked for various reasons. These can range from fear of receiving a concerning diagnosis to simply underestimating the importance of regular skin checks. Some may dismiss changes in their skin as insignificant or attribute them to harmless factors like aging or sun exposure. However, overlooking the warning signs of skin cancer can have serious consequences. Early detection is key to successful treatment, and a delay in seeing a skin specialist could allow a potentially harmful lesion to progress unchecked.
Take proactive steps to prioritize your skin health.
- Schedule a full-body skin check with a skin specialist who has received specific training to utilize dermoscopy, a non-invasive imaging technique that allows for a closer look at suspicious lesions. This enables them to identify suspicious lesions and recommend appropriate management, such as biopsy or excision.
- If any abnormalities are detected during the examination, a biopsy may be recommended to determine if the lesion is cancerous. The biopsy process is quick and relatively painless, providing valuable insights into the nature of the lesion. With modern laboratory techniques, results are often available within a few business days, allowing for prompt decision-making regarding treatment.
- If your skin specialist confirms skin cancer, they can begin treatment in their office. Excision, a common surgical procedure, involves removing the cancerous lesion along with a margin of healthy tissue to ensure complete removal. Additionally, the procedure is typically performed under local anesthesia and can be completed in a single office visit.
- After excision, the healing process begins. Due to advancements in surgical techniques and wound care, recovery is often quick and uneventful. Your skin heals quickly and will leave behind little to no evidence of the procedure.
Don’t wait – schedule your full-body skin check today and take the first step towards skin cancer freedom.