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Skin Cancer Screenings
We recommend regular skin cancer screening to all of our patients and their families. Skin cancer screenings are important for early skin cancer detection, which is essential for optimal treatment and increasing the chances of curing the condition.
Learn more about how our board-certified dermatologists perform skin cancer screenings at Cumberland Skin in Hermitage, TN, as well as when you should start getting them, how often, and more.
What is a Skin Cancer Screening?
Skin cancer screenings are relatively straightforward procedures that involve the visual examination of the skin. Our board-certified dermatologists simply examine the skin for unusual marks, suspicious spots, or irregular moles that do not look like other moles on the body. The goal of a skin cancer screening is to uncover or identify a spot or mole that has the potential to be skin cancer, as early detection is key for effective treatment.
Skin Cancer Screening FAQ
During a skin cancer screening, your dermatologist will evaluate your skin for unusual marks, suspicious spots, or irregular moles that might potentially be skin cancer or another life-threatening skin condition.
Additionally, our dermatologists specifically look for the warning signs and symptoms of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanomas during skin cancer screenings, as these are the most common types of skin cancer.
While there’s no exact age to start getting regular skin cancer screenings, there’s no wrong time to start! Especially if you are at an increased risk for skin cancer due to certain risk factors. These risk factors include:
- Fair skin
- Blonde or red hair
- Blue or green eyes
- Skin that burns or freckles easily
- History of sunburns
- History of tanning bed use
- A job requiring a significant amount of time outdoors
- Family or personal history of skin cancer
- Large number of moles
At Cumberland Skin in Hermitage, Tennessee, our board-certified dermatologists recommend getting annual skin exams after the age of 18 – especially if you have one or more of the risk factors mentioned above.
Experts recommend getting a skin cancer screening on an annual basis, or every year. As mentioned above, early detection is key. All types of skin cancers are more treatable in their early stages, so going in for an annual skin cancer screening is important to ensure the health of your skin or to catch skin cancer before it’s too late!
No, skin cancer screenings are not painful. Additionally, skin cancer screenings require no needles or invasive incisions and usually take less than 30 minutes to complete.
Yes, skin cancer screenings are a part of preventative care. Preventive care is any medical service or health care that protects against or reduces the likelihood of health emergencies. Skin cancer screenings are one of the easiest steps you can take to protect the health and wellness of your skin!
In most cases, insurance generally covers skin cancer screenings. However, everyone’s insurance plans are different so it’s impossible to guarantee coverage. Before visiting Cumberland Skin for an annual skin cancer screening, we recommend the patient contacts their insurance company to ensure that their visit and screening will be covered.
Skin Cancer Screenings
Have questions or concerns? Please call us at 615.964.5941