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Skin Cancer Checks

Skin Cancer Clinic Brisbane

Concerned about past and ongoing sun exposure? Skin checks are a proactive approach to stay on top of your health and overall wellbeing.

At Herstellen Clinic, Brisbane, our experienced team is fit with over 20 years in reconstructive procedures, plastic surgery and non-invasive skincare treatments. A skin cancer check and certain skin treatments at our clinic can be the first step toward minimising sun damage and reversing the signs of UV exposure.

Interested in a tailored consultation to check any worrying spots you have on your body? Speak with our team about booking a comfortable and private skin cancer check appointment today.

Concerning moles can be effectively removed by qualified plastic surgeons.

At Herstellen Clinic, plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr Justin Perron is passionate about supporting men and women to repair their bodies through plastic and reconstructive surgery. Check out our about page to learn more about Dr Justin Perron.

Staying on top of your skin:
Skin checks in Brisbane

As recommended by the Cancer Council Australia, regular checks can help you notice and stay on top of any unexpected changes. If you are concerned about any spots on your body or have noticed any differences from your last assessment, booking a mole check is the first step towards managing your overall skin health. With early detection, the risk of serious melanoma or other types of skin cancer could be reduced.

How do I know when to check a mole?

Routine skin cancer checks should be a part of your general health check up, typically about once every 12 months.

On the other hand, if you have noticed any changes in existing moles, it is a good idea to have the changes looked at to ensure that it has not become a concern. In-between your appointments, you should regularly inspect your skin at home to make sure that no worrying changes have occurred.

Changes in moles to look out for that could be signs of skin cancer include:

  • Shape and size changes
  • Colour changes, such as darkening or the presence of multiple shades
  • If the moles have become raised
  • Itchiness, bleeding or crusting

Become familiar with how your moles normally look on your body, so that you will be able to notice any significant changes that should be looked at.

Regular checks are important as changes may occur in smaller moles without becoming noticeable to us on a daily basis, and most skin cancers are treatable if they are detected early.

The best way to increase the likelihood of early detection is to conduct a regular at home full body skin check for skin cancer symptoms, and book an appointment with a skin cancer clinic for a more extensive check every 12 months.

If you have a large amount of moles or freckles on your skin, are pale and more prone to sunburn or have a history of skin cancer in your family, you may need to undergo skin checks more regularly. Talk to your GP about the best skin health management plan moving forward and make sure that you regularly check your skin at home.

What to Expect 

The Herstellen Clinic medical team in Brisbane has extensive experience looking out for changes on the skin and potential melanoma. For clients who haven’t yet visited a clinic to undergo a skin cancer check, the following simple steps are what you can expect at most routine appointments:

  1. Timeframe: The average assessment usually takes between 20-30 minutes. The actual review and any noticed changes may only take a few minutes, your clinician will also discuss and ask questions about your general health, lifestyle factors, and potential environmental exposures.
  2. SCAN: either from your own self skin check or during your routine, it’s important to point out or closely inspect for SCAN skin. SCAN stands for Sore, Changing, Abnormal, or New moles, spots, and freckles.
  3. Close inspection: the clinician may use a small dermatoscope (similar to a magnifying glass with a light) to more closely examine specific moles, spots, or freckles. At times, a clinician may take a close-up photograph of a particular mole to watch for changes in appearance over time.
  4. Further testing: in the rare event your clinician determines additional testing is required of a concerning spot or spots, a small biopsy may be taken on site and sent away for further examination. Laboratory testing may take several days before you or your doctor receive the results.

How to prepare for your appointment

One of the most commonly asked questions about skin cancer checks is if you will have to undress for the appointment. Most clinicians require patients to leave their undergarments on while removing most or all other articles of clothing. Please speak with your clinician about any concerns you have before starting the consultation.

It is important to note that areas with infrequent sun exposure – such as under the nails and between fingers and toes – can still show signs of melanoma. Please consider all areas of your body both at-home during self checks and when at a clinic.

This form of cancer can often be easily treated with early detection. Depending on your level of risk for developing melanoma, your doctor may recommend more frequent checks than is standard, however, early detection can be the difference between successful removal of early-stage melanoma and needing more intensive treatment.

How to prevent skin cancer

To prevent the most common types of skin cancer, it is important to protect your skin from the harsh UV rays that it can be exposed to on a daily basis.

Typically, the sun is shining at its strongest around midday, so it is especially important to either avoid direct sun exposure at this time or make sure that your skin is protected with an SPF 30 and a hat.

Remember to reapply sunscreen after swimming, playing sport or if you have been outside for a long period of time.

We strongly recommend that you avoid tanning beds and sunlamps, as they most commonly require the use of UV light.

Overall, excessive sun exposure, solariums, and even mild sunburn can potentially cause skin cancer. Protecting your skin by avoiding harmful environments and wearing sun protection is important for your general health.

What are the skin cancer symptoms?

Common signs of skin cancer include multicoloured moles, growing moles with uneven borders, raised moles and moles that are itchy, flaking or bleeding. Generally, if a mole doesn’t look right or has changed in appearance, it is important to have it looked at to ensure that the changes are not serious.

Skin checks at Herstellen Clinic

Plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr Justin Perron created Herstellen Clinic as a place for men and women to restore and repair their bodies in a supportive and comfortable environment.

To stay on top of your health and wellbeing, please speak with our friendly team at the Herstellen Clinic in Brisbane to have your appointment scheduled today. With recommended best practices for minimising, or treating, environmental damage, our expert team can help you get started on a skin-revitalising journey.