A skin health check ensures that any dangerous moles or growths can be dealt with quickly.
Skin cancer kills more than 2,500 people each year and the most dangerous form of skin cancer is melanoma, which can develop from existing moles or develop as new standalone marks on the skin. Regular skin health checks with a dermatologist and self-checks at home can help to identify skin cancer in its early stages. Most skin cancers can be cured if they are detected early. However it is not always easy to check your moles yourself if they are located somewhere where it is difficult to see, for example on your back or scalp. An appointment with a specialist will ensure that these moles are not overlooked. If skin cancer is suspected, but not confirmed, a skin biopsy may be performed. This sees a small portion of the skin removed and examined more closely under a microscope in order to identify cancer cells.
If any worrying moles do turn out to be cancerous, they must be removed immediately via surgical excision or Mohs surgery.
It is also important to monitor certain types of birthmarks which have the potential to develop into cancer. A very rare type of birthmark, called a giant congenital melanocytic naevus, can develop into a melanoma if it is larger than 20cm, so it is important that it is checked regularly for any signs of change. Medical guidance recommends that people who have large congenital melanocytic naevi should have regular checks by a dermatologist.