# Time to get skin checked by dermatologist? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 15, 2008, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-get-skin-checked-by-dermatologist/460125 "2008-08-15T18:57:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-get-skin-checked-by-dermatologist/460125/1 "2008-08-15T18:57:44Z")
I’m now 40, and am wondering if it’s time to go to a dermatologist. I got sunburned several times as a kid, once very badly, and since I make milk look dark, I’m sort-of worried about the possibility of skin cancer. So far I don’t have any of the symptoms, but I do have some broken capillaries around my nose and a couple of them on my chin. They’re not very big but still, they kind of bug me. The biggest reason I’m wondering if it’s time is that my dad was as pale as I am and got burned many, many times over the course of his working days, and had to have many, many moles and pre-cancerous places removed. There were a couple that were thinking about changing to cancerous but were removed in time. Thanks in advance! ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-get-skin-checked-by-dermatologist/460125/2 "2008-08-15T19:08:49Z")
I’d go right now. I am pale and spent my summers as a kid considering sunscreen was for wimps. The first time I went to the dermatologist they were able to just burn off the pre-cancerous spots with liquid nitrogen. That give you a scabby face for a week, but it goes away. I later had to have two spots cut out surgically, spending half a day in the doc’s office and stitches in my neck and arm. The first is far preferable. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-get-skin-checked-by-dermatologist/460125/3 "2008-08-16T00:50:01Z")
Definitely go. My friend went at about your age, and was found to have a lot of very troublesome areas. She has gotten some treatments and is monitoring things closely, and all is well. But this early care will probably pay off handsomely. On the other hand, my mom just went for a full-body scan. She’s 65. They told her “You’ve got nothing to worry about. Get outta here!” Regardless of your particular skin and anything that might have happened in the past, it would seem like going for a dermatological checkup is a good idea. Maybe your mind will be set at ease about the whole issue. Maybe you’ll be able to do some valuable preventative early care. Or maybe you’ll find that you are fine at this point, but that you need to keep an eye on things. And if nothing else, it will help establish a baseline for any future changes. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-get-skin-checked-by-dermatologist/460125/4 "2008-08-16T01:43:55Z")
As of 2001, the best research indicated no conclusion as to whether screening for skin cancer in asymptomatic or low-risk individuals was helpful: [http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf/uspsskca.htm](http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf/uspsskca.htm) > [@](#): > > The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concludes that the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against routine screening for skin cancer using a total-body skin examination for the early detection of cutaneous melanoma, basal cell cancer, or squamous cell skin cancer. > Rating: “I” statement. > > Rationale: Evidence is lacking that skin examination by clinicians is effective in reducing mortality or morbidity from skin cancer. The USPSTF could not determine the benefits and harms of periodic skin examination. (Go to Clinical Considerations for discussion of selected populations at high risk.) An update of this recommendation is currently in progress. If you have a suspicious lesion, you should go to your doctor. A good internist or family physician can help you decide what to do next. What’s a suspicious lesion? The American Academy of Family Physicians (of which I am a member) states the following… Signs of skin cancer: The ABCDE rule A for asymmetry: A mole that, when divided in half, doesn’t look the same on both sides. B for border: A mole with edges that are blurry or jagged. C for color: Changes in the color of a mole, including darkening, spread of color, loss of color, or the appearance of multiple colors such as blue, red, white, pink, purple or gray. D for diameter: A mole larger than 1/4 inch in diameter. E for elevation: A mole that is raised above the skin and has an uneven surface. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-get-skin-checked-by-dermatologist/460125/5 "2008-08-16T01:48:13Z")
Also from the AAFP for completeness’ sake: > [@](#): > > There are 2 forms of skin cancer: melanoma (the less common but more serious form) and nonmelanoma (the common, very treatable form). > > More than 1 million people will be diagnosed with skin cancer this year. > > Most will have nonmelanoma skin cancer. > > Almost all skin cancers are the result of too much exposure to ultraviolet light, which is in sunlight and in lights used in tanning salons. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-get-skin-checked-by-dermatologist/460125/6 "2008-08-16T16:32:37Z")
I finally went a few weeks ago (I’m 41), after _years_ of harping by my SIL (she lost a friend to melanoma at 30 :eek: ). I wanted a few moles removed that were raised and had always bugged me. I had six removed (I will go back for a few more soon), and he did a full-body check of the rest of me. It was quick and painless, and he suggested a full-body check every year, since I am a sun-worshipper.