It may sound inconvenient to schedule annual skin cancer screenings. However, this simple examination takes less than 15 minutes. During the exam, your doctor will carefully observe your skin from your head to your toes. Your comfort is important. Before your exam, you'll remove all of your clothes and put on a medical gown. Before beginning your exam, you'll have the chance to tell your doctor about any growths or moles that seem concerning to you. The exam will then be performed, possibly using a lighted instrument. Your doctor will start at one end of your body, either your scalp or your feet, and will observe your skin and any spots they see.
Skin cancer screenings don't take very long because your dermatologist is looking for very specific characteristics in the spots on your body. These include signs of asymmetry, irregular borders, abnormal coloring, and size. They will also look for precancerous growths called actinic keratoses.