PARTIAL SKIN CANCER EXAM

What to expect at the appointment?

A partial skin cancer screening focuses on specific areas of concern rather than the entire body. During this exam, your provider carefully checks a limited region of your skin — such as the face, arms, back, or another area you point out — for suspicious spots, moles, or lesions. This is helpful if you’ve noticed a new or changing spot or want extra attention to a certain area between full body exams.

How often should I have a PARTIAL skin cancer screening? 

• Anytime you notice a concern:
  A partial skin exam can be scheduled whenever you see a new spot, changing mole, sore that doesn’t heal, or anything worrisome. You don’t need to wait until your yearly full body check.

• Between routine screenings:
  Some patients choose to have a partial exam in between their annual full body skin exams — for peace of mind or extra monitoring of high-risk areas (like the face, scalp, or arms).

• Provider recommendations:
  If you have a history of skin cancer, precancerous lesions (like actinic keratoses), or many moles, your dermatology provider may suggest partial exams every 3–6 months in addition to full exams.