Asked Questions
Anyone who is higher risk for skin cancer: people with fair skin, freckles, red or blond hair people with frequent sun exposure – outdoor jobs or sports/hobbies those with a family history of skin cancer patients who have had a past skin cancer patients on immune modulating medications / transplant patients those with multiple moles/freckles anyone who is worried about skin cancer or who has a changing or new mole/spot
There is no particular age that is recommended to start skin cancer checks. We recommend persons in thier early 20’s if they are interested, they come in for a once off check and education about skin cancer and its prevention. Very rarely a skin cancer can occur in children, so if a spot is very odd or rapidly changing even children should come in for a check.
During your skin cancer check, you will not be removing all your clothes, you will leave your underwear on. Make sure you attend with no makeup, nail polish removed and make note of any spots you would like to discuss. During your skin check your clinician will systematically look at your skin part by part, inspecting any lesions of concern with a dermatoscope (a special skin microscope). Sometimes photos of particular lesions will be taken and uploaded into your clinical file. If anything suspicious is found on your skin, we will take a photograph and refer you for diagnosis, management and or treatment.
“Change” itself is a serious symptom to watch for, particularly something growing/thickening and changing over several weeks or months. It is also good to keep the “ABCDE’s” of skin cancer detection in mind. A= asymmetry B = border (irregular or non distinct) C = colour – more than one colour, changing colour, different colour to other lesions D = diameter (enlarging diameter, or diameter > 6mm) E = evolution (or as above “CHANGE”!)
Yes it can! It is much more likely to affect sun damaged areas or as we like to call them “high impact sites” The most common places are the areas of the body that are most often exposed to the sun, such as face, ears, forearms and back of hands. But anywhere you have skin it is possible to get skin cancer, that is why we suggest you pay attention to your own skin – Know your skin and know your moles.
Slip (on a shirt), slop (on sunscreen), slap (on a hat), slide (on sunglasses) and seek (shade). Have a regular yearly skin cancer check to detect lesions at an early treatable stage.
We want you to know your skin, most skin cancers will grow as a new spot or blotch on your skin. We also want you to know your moles, that’s so you know if they’re growing or changing. You should pay attention to anything new growing on your skin. Pink crusty, scaley, ulcerated, grows or bleeds over a short time frame should be checked regardless if it is dark or pink. If you notice any new or changing moles or skin lesions that do not resolve in 4-6 weeks we strongly suggest to book an appointment as soon as possible. Some changes to look out for: New skin lesions Change in colour Becomes raised or lumpy Increases in size Bleeds or weeps Becomes rough or scaly Becomes itchy or sore Looks different to your other moles and lesions Skin cancer can be a range of shapes, sizes, and colour. If in doubt, let us check it out!
Sunscreen uses ingredients to absorb and reflect UV rays. Zinc uses the same ingredients to absorb and reflect UV rays. We recommend just finding a product you like, that feels good on your skin and something that you’re happy to wear each day. The application and then the reapplication are important factors to preventing sunburn and skin cancer.
few minutes of sunlight exposure outside peak UV periods on most days of the week can be sufficient for most people to maintain healthy vitamin D levels, depending on skin type and geographical location
Excision is a common way to treat skin cancer. Sometimes there are other options depending on the type of cancer or pre-cancerous lesion and the location. Treatment options may include freezing with liquid nitrogen, PDT (photo dynamic therapy), Laser, immune modulating creams such as Aldara, Effudex or radiotherapy. Your Doctor will discuss the best treatment options for your individual circumstances.
Skin cancer results from abnormal growth of skin cells, most often due to UV radiation exposure. The most common types of skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma, with varying degrees of severity.
UV radiation, which causes sunburn and skin damage, can be high even on cool or cloudy days, so protection is necessary whenever the UV index is 3 or above. Outdoor workers should apply sunscreen every day regardless of UV index
This is a great free app that you can download from the app store or via the SunSmart app website. It will give you information about the UV rating each day – calculated from local weather reports, and apply this to your skin type/age to advise you when you need to use sun protection for the day. https://www.sunsmart.com.au/
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