If you have no concerns about the health of your skin, hair, nails, or the oral cavity, you still need to see a dermatologist regularly as a way of maintaining your current health. Since an estimated 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their life, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, healthy adults should see a dermatologist as a proactive way of monitoring for early detection of cancer or other dermatologic disorders.
At Doctor’s Approach, we firmly believe every adult should have a full body exam a minimum of one time, each year.
Once a year is the minimum when it comes to how often each individual should make an appointment with their dermatologist. At-risk adults may need to see a dermatologist more frequently.
When it comes down to it, your dermatologist is the best person to advise you on the frequency of your check-ups. Because of this, we recommend you start with an initial exam and spend time going through your personal and family history. Be sure to mention if any of the following circumstances apply to you:
- You, or a close relative, have been diagnosed with or treated for skin cancer.
- If you have in the past, or currently, spend significant amounts of time in the sun.
- You have a mole with suspicious characteristics.
- You have a skin condition, such as acne, psoriasis, or eczema.
After your visit we will create a personalized plan to address your concerns about your health, which may include more frequent check-ups or specialized treatment. It’s not uncommon for a dermatologist to advise a patient with certain risk factors to have a check-up two to three times per year.
Contact us today to schedule your annual full body skin exam.
