Your Skin, Your Future
Skin cancer is a serious health concern here in Western Australia where we enjoy plenty of sunshine. Early detection is the key to successful treatment, and a simple skin check could save your life.
Who Should Get a Skin Check?
Everyone should regularly check their skin, regardless of age or skin type.
However, people at higher risk of skin cancer should have regular professional skin checks. Risk factors include:
- Have fair skin, freckles, or light hair.
- Spend a lot of time outdoors.
- Have a family or personal history of skin cancer.
- A large number of moles, or moles that are unusual in shape or color.
- Being immunosuppressed.
How to Check Your Skin Regularly at Home?
You can monitor your skin at home and be familiar with your own skin.
Use a mirror or ask a partner to check hard-to-see areas and look for:
- New spots, mole, or changes in size, shape, or colour.
- Sores that don’t heal or spots that are itchy or bleed.
- The “ugly duckling” (a spot that stands out).
Types of Skin Cancer to Check
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
- Most common: Accounts for 75% of skin cancers.
- Appearance: Pearly, pinkish lumps or scaly patches, often on sun-exposed areas like the face.
- Risk: Rarely spreads but can damage nearby tissue if untreated.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)
- Fast-growing and commonly appearing on on hands and face.
- Appearance varies: It can be a firm, red nodule. Or a scaly, crusty patch. Or a sore that doesn’t heal or heals and reappears. Or a rough, thickened patch of skin. Sometimes have a wart-like appearance
- Solar keratoses are rough, scaly patches on sun-exposed skin – considered precancerous and can sometimes develop into SCC if left untreated.
- Risk: Can spread if ignored, requiring prompt treatment.
Melanoma
- Most serious: Grows quickly and can spread to organs.
- Unlike some other cancers more common in older adults, melanoma can affect younger individuals.
- Signs: New or changing moles, irregular borders, multiple colours, itching, or bleeding.
- Can occur anywhere on the body even in less obvious places like under fingernails, toenails, feet soles.
- Early detection is crucial: Melanoma is highly treatable in its early stages.
All Images: ISIC Archive https://www.isic-archive.com/ - Creative Commons licensed.
How Can a Doctor Help?
Your GP knows your medical history and can examine your skin thoroughly. If needed, they can refer you to a specialist for further assessment. GPs and specialists use special tools and techniques to check your skin safely and accurately.
What Happens During a Professional Check?
Here’s what typically happens during a skin Check with your GP:
- Medical history: Expect questions about sun exposure, past skin cancers, or family history, and any other medical conditions. You’ll likely be asked if you’ve noticed any changes in your moles or any new spots on your skin.
- Examination: The GP will checks all areas, including scalp and soles looking for moles, freckles, birthmarks, and other skin lesions. GP might gently feel certain moles or lesions to assess their texture and thickness.
- Dermoscopy: A handheld device magnifies spots to detect cancer early
- Documentation: If the GP identifies any moles or spots that look concerning they will likely to document the lesion’s characteristic and potentially take a clinical photograph.
- Biopsy: If a spot looks suspicious, a small sample is tested and sent for analysis.
- Excision: if a lesion is small and highly suspicious, the GP might perform a minor surgical excision to remove it entirely and send it for pathology.
- Management plan: GP will advice depending on findings and recommend appropriate follow up. For highly suspicious or complex lesions, the GP may refer you to a dermatologist.
If you notice any changes,
don’t delay—see your GP.
Dr Michael “Mikey” Dawber has special interests in dermatology and skin cancer.
He is a member of the Skin Cancer College Australasia, and furthering his skills enrolled in an Advanced Clinical Certificate of Dermoscopy.
If you’re at high risk and haven’t had a skin check in some time, or have noticed anything unusual during a self-examination, book an appointment with Dr. Mikey to ensure early detection.