Thread: Go get a skin check!

I just had my first skin check today. Apparently fair-skinned people should do this annually. Or maybe it was everyone should do it annually.

I had one pre-cancerous spot zapped off. It didn't look odd to me at all and I would have never thought there was anything wrong. The doctor was surprised he only found one spot.

Make an appointment with a dermatologist and stay out of the sun from 10-3!

I agree with this 100%.

Last year, I had a sketchy-looking thing cut off that luckily ended up being benign. But even just waiting for biopsy results was scary enough to make me rethink my sun and skin habits as a whole.

Be safe!

Thanks for the reminder Sandra! I'm overdue for my annual Zapping Of Suspicious Skin Bits myself (sigh).

I just got mine done. This time it was 4 suspicious. Luckily three are fine and waiting to get the fourth done. As a major 'pale baby,' I am used to getting carved up once a year. Mine are not zapped, but taken out and stitched.

Preventative medicine is what I call it. :)

Thanks for the reminder. I am due! I have to go every year...

This is so important... I had some nasty spots a few years ago, and now I have a full-body check every year and stay out of the sun as much as I can.

Is there a certain age when you should start getting checked annually?

My mom had a large spot of melanoma, but had it removed and thankfully is fine now. Since then, I wanted to checked but have no health insurance. (stupid health care system)

I had a melanoma removed years ago, with no need for follow-up. But my doctor scared me to death saying that if we'd caught it even a month later than we did, I'd have been facing skin grafts and major chemo.

It's so important to get checked regularly--and right away if something is changing. It makes a huge difference in treatment!

I lost my Dad when he was only 44 to malignant melanoma. I have to get checked every year. it is so important! Sunscreen is your friend. I'm so glad yours was caught so early Laura.