How often should I have a skin check?

Written By Andrew Brunton

This is a question I am commonly asked by patients who attend the clinic. The answer depends on the individual’s risk of growing a skin cancer.

Risk Factors that make a person more likely to grow a melanoma on their skin include:

  • Having had multiple bad sunburns (Blistering/Peeling) before the age of 20yrs

  • Having >100 moles or having > 5 “atypical” moles (large or multi-coloured)

  • Having a 1st Degree relative that has had a melanoma

  • Having had a previous skin cancer of any time (Basal Cell Carcinoma or Squamous Cell Carcinoma)

  • Having Type 1 or 2 skin type (Red or light blonde hair, light eye colour, light skin colour, easily burnt skin, tendency to make multiple freckles)

I also direct people to use one of the various online risk assessment tools that provide a personalised risk assessment for developing melanoma. Once your risk is assessed then a recommendation can be made as to how often you should have a skin check

One such tool is the “SCAN YOUR SCAN” website developed by the Skin Cancer College of Australia.

See AFLW Star Emily Bates https://youtu.be/8UYhHxPBpJQ


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Andrew Brunton
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