Who can perform skin cancer screening?

Special training is required to be able to perform skin cancer screening. This ensures a standardized procedure for skin cancer screening paid for by the insurance companies. Accordingly, the screening is still offered primarily by dermatologists, i.e. dermatologists.

Of course, they also have the greatest expertise when it comes to treating any findings. However, general practitioners or pediatricians who are trained in skin cancer screening can also offer skin cancer screening. This often has the advantage that the distances to the doctor and the waiting times for an appointment are shorter. In addition, the main purpose of the actual screening is to detect abnormalities. These can then still be presented to a dermatologist for further clarification.

Procedure of the examination

In skin cancer screening, the examination is performed with the naked eye and covers the entire body.It is to be considered that skin cancer stands in connection with the UV-RADIATION load, in addition, at body regions can occur, which do not get any sunbeams. Therefore it is important that actually the whole body, thus also the Anal and genital region is examined. Malignant findings can also be found on the soles of the feet, toes and spaces between the toes or under the finger and toenails.

These should therefore always be examined together with the examination. Since the whole body must be examined, it is easier to examine the whole body if nail polish, heavy make-up or elaborate hairstyles are avoided, because skin cancer can also develop under the nails, on the face or on the scalp. The mucous membranes around the mouth or nose should also be examined.

During the examination, the entire body is now examined piece by piece without any aids, if necessary with the help of a magnifying glass or bright lamp. There are various criteria that can indicate that a mole may be a malignant finding. However, detection in screening is based solely on criteria that can be detected with the eye and the experience of the examiner.

Further examinations are only necessary in case of suspicious findings. Many practices also offer documentation of the findings. Photos are taken and stored of all suspicious skin areas.

This has the advantage that not only the current condition but also any changes in a skin lesion can be checked. Thus, a mole may not appear very suspicious on its own, but if it has changed a lot since the last screening, it can be quite noticeable. In addition, the images can be taken along when moving or changing doctors, so that the new doctor has a chance to include the course of the disease. However, this documentation is usually not covered by the health insurance companies but must be paid either as a lump sum or per image taken.