The Importance of Annual Skin Exams

Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Dr. Rajan Bhatt serves as CEO of Spectrum Dermatology, Spectrum Plastic Surgery, and Valley Surgery Center. One of the services Dr. Rajan Bhatt provides is an annual skin examination.

Skin cancer ranks as the №1 most common cancer in the United States. Fortunately, annual skin exams can help medical professionals detect and treat various skin cancers at their earliest, most treatable stages. In fact, dermatologists conducting skin exams have the opportunity to locate and remove precancerous growths before they progress to a more dangerous stage.

Most individuals should begin seeing a doctor for an annual skin exam in their 20’s or 30’s. That said, there are a few risk factors that may suggest a person should start receiving annual exams, or bi-annual exams, at an earlier age.

Individuals with blonde or red hair, light eye color, or skin prone to freckling and sunburns are at greater risk for certain skin cancers. A family history of melanoma also suggests an individual may be at an elevated risk level.

Other risk factors result from human behavior. Individuals who use tanning beds or spend extended periods of time in the sun have a higher chance of developing skin cancer. Individuals should discuss their risk for skin cancer and interest in annual skin exams with their family physician.