Doctors routinely recommend breast, prostate, and colon cancer screenings. These preventative tests have saved many lives. Dermatologists recommend yearly skin cancer screenings to catch and stop potential issues. Adding this simple, non-invasive screening to your yearly preventative schedule can prevent minor problems from becoming harmful.
What is Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer occurs when different types of skin cells grow out of control. These cells have lost the ability to regulate their growth. The most common types of skin cancer, basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, form in the superficial layers of skin, while melanoma forms from pigment-producing cells called melanocytes. While the first two tend to grow more slowly, melanoma can quickly become dangerous if not addressed early.
What is a Skin Cancer Screening?
Your Krauss dermatologist has extensive training and experience in identifying potential problems. During a skin cancer screening, your dermatologist checks your skin. While skin cancer develops more often in sun-exposed areas, it can occur almost anywhere.
If your dermatologist sees anything of concern, they will take a biopsy, a small sample of the area. This biopsy goes to a specialized laboratory for examination and diagnosis. If they find anything of concern, your dermatologist will contact you to return for treatment.
How Much Does a Skin Cancer Screening Cost?
The cost of a skin cancer screening varies depending on what skin lesions are found and what other skin conditions are discussed and treated. The most important factor is whether you have health insurance and if you have a deductible. Our billing staff can help you understand what you can expect to pay if you call in advance prior to your appointment. However, you may also need to contact your insurance to find out about your plan’s copays, deductibles and other expenses.
You may also need to use an in-network dermatologist for your visit or require a referral by your primary care doctor. Make sure to ask your insurance company what the differences in cost will be if you choose to see an out-of-network dermatologist.
The cost of a skin cancer screening does not cover additional expenses if you need a biopsy and lab testing. You can also ask your insurance company how much coverage they provide for these treatments. Most insurance companies will cover these diagnostic tests, but you may have copays, deductibles or other costs.
Do I Need a Skin Cancer Screening?
At Krauss Dermatology, we recommend yearly skin cancer screenings for most adults. You may need screening more often if you have certain risk factors, such as:
- Red hair or very fair skin
- A large number of moles
- A history of extensive sun exposure or sunburns
- A family history of skin cancer
- A personal history of skin cancer
We will recommend how often you should have screenings based on your personal history and other factors.
How is Skin Cancer Treated?
We use different treatment methods depending on the size and type of skin cancer. Mohs surgery is an effective procedure for removing basal and squamous cell carcinomas in specific areas such as the face, neck and hands.. It may also be used to treat other types of skin cancer. We may recommend other methods if we feel they will give you better results. Excisions and other types of destruction of skin cancer can be used depending on the type of cancer, its size, and its location.
Take the Next Step
If you have further questions about skin cancer screenings, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with one of the board-certified dermatologists at Krauss Dermatology. Call us at (781) 416-3500 or fill out our online contact form. We look forward to taking care of you.