When was your last skin check?
Was it 6 months ago? 1 year? Or maybe longer?
At McGuiness Dermatology & Plastic Surgery, our team understands that life can get busy and doctor’s appointments get missed.
We aren’t here to lecture you; we are here to encourage you to schedule your annual or bi-annual skin exam near Frisco. This potentially life-saving exam only lasts 10 minutes, but the peace of mind lasts much longer.
To learn more about what happens during a skin check, and why it’s so important to schedule one at least once a year, read this blog.
Skip Ahead
You can use the links below to find the most pertinent information for you.
- What Is a Skin Check?
- What Happens During a Skin Check?
- The Benefits of a Skin Check?
- Why Come to McGuiness?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Skin Check?
A skin check is a visual inspection of your skin completed by a licensed dermatologist to check your risk of skin cancer.
Skin Cancer
Skin cancer remains the most common cancer diagnosed in the United States, affecting 1 in 5 patients. The thing is, it’s highly treatable and preventable if caught early.
Schedule an annual or bi-annual skin exam near Frisco so we can detect and address any suspicious changes promptly. We look at new, changing, or unusual moles, freckles, and spots. The different types of skin cancer include:
- Basal cell carcinoma: Causes lumps, bumps, or lesions on the top layer of skin.
- Squamous cell carcinoma: Causes rough-feeling bumps, growths, wounds, or sores that won’t heal, and flat, scaly areas of skin that are red and larger than 1 inch.
- Melanoma: A quick-growing skin cancer that poses the highest risk to your life and health. It can appear as moles, scaly patches, open sores, or raised bumps.
During your skin exam near Frisco, we also check for other skin cancers, such as:
- Kaposi sarcoma: Causes lesions that can form on the skin or inside the mouth, nose, or anus.
- Merkel cell carcinoma: A rare and aggressive form of skin cancer that appears on sun-exposed skin as shiny or pearly lumps.
- Sebaceous carcinoma: A skin cancer that appears on oil-producing glands like the eyelids. Appears as yellow acne-like bumps or sores that don’t heal anywhere on the body where hair is produced.
- Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans: A slow-growing skin cancer that starts in the middle layer of skin (dermis), typically in areas that have been damaged from burns, scars, or tattoos.
What Causes Skin Cancer?
The most common cause of skin cancer is prolonged exposure to sunlight or other forms of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Other risk factors include:
- A family history of skin cancer.
- Certain medications that weaken your immune system.
- Having many moles or an irregular-shaped mole.
Anyone is at risk of developing skin cancer, which means anyone can benefit from visiting our office for a skin check at least 1 to 2 times a year.
What Happens During a Skin Check?
From start to finish, here’s what to expect for your skin check.
Meet Your Dermatologist
We start your skin exam near Frisco with a personal conversation so you can connect with your dermatologist. We ask if you have any concerns regarding your skin that you would like to address during this visit. This can refer to anything related to skin cancer—like moles, lesions, or scaly patches.
This is time dedicated to you and your skin concerns. We always recommend writing down a list of topics that you would like to cover before the skin check so you remember to bring them up.
Review Medical History
After the initial conversation, we review your medical and family history of skin cancer. We also ask about your skincare routine: What products are you using, how often, and for what reasons?
Then, we inquire about your direct sun exposure, SPF usage, and tanning frequency to assess your risk of developing skin cancer.
The Skin Check
We provide you with a hospital gown to change into and explain to you every part of your body that we examine for your skin check. This includes:
- Nose
- Cheeks
- Arms
- Back
- Chest
- Legs
- Armpits
- Between your toes
- Genitals
- Scalp
During your skin exam near Frisco, your dermatologist uses a dermatoscope (a handheld magnifying glass for your skin) to assess each area of your body and identify any irregularities.
At any point, you can ask your dermatologist questions or even to pause or stop; you are in control of this skin exam.
After Your Skin Check
Your dermatologist sits down with you and explains your results. If they do not find any abnormalities, we can schedule your next skin exam near Frisco, then you are free to go.
If anything unusual is found, your dermatologist photographs it, then obtains a tissue sample to send to a pathologist — a process known as a biopsy.
If Cancer Is Present
If the results from your biopsy come back positive for skin cancer, we refer you to one of our skin cancer dermatologists who can perform Moh’s surgery. During Moh’s surgery, your doctor surgically removes cancer cells layer-by-layer and examines it under a microscope until only cancer-free tissue remains.
As we stated before: Skin cancer is highly treatable if caught early. In fact, Mohs surgery boasts a 99% success rate with the lowest recurrence rate of any other skin cancer treatment.
The Benefits of a Skin Check
A skin check is a life-saving exam that anyone should schedule starting in their early 20s. Here are a few benefits that you can gain from a skin check.
Peace of Mind
It’s easy to panic when it comes to your health, especially when you notice something new on your skin. A professional examination can quickly identify any concerns, providing reassurance if everything is fine, or guiding you toward timely treatment if needed. Regular skin checks significantly increase the chances of catching skin cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages.
After we have completed your skin exam near Frisco, you don’t have to worry or think about it until the next appointment. Just remember to apply sunscreen daily—even in the winter—and avoid excessive UV radiation.
Quick Treatment Time
There aren’t a lot of tasks or treatments that only take 10 minutes, but a skin check does. This quick appointment is easy to fit within even the busiest schedules. And because we offer this treatment at all 6 of our locations across the Dallas-Fortworth metroplex, it’s easy to access, too.
Opportunity to Assess Other Skin-Related Concerns
Maybe you’re not concerned about skin cancer, but a dry and itchy rash is keeping you awake at night. During your skin check, you can also ask your doctor about other skin-related concerns. This helps you stay on top of your skin health and receive tailored advice about your skin care routine and products.
Why You Should Come to McGuiness Dermatology
We strive to be the best dermatologists for our patients. That means providing you with quality and accessible care.
Throughout all 6 locations, we have a dedicated team of board-certified dermatologists who can diagnose and treat over 3,000 diseases related to your hair, skin, or nails.
Dr. Michael McGuiness, the founder of McGuiness Dermatology & Plastic Surgery, has dedicated over 2 decades to raising awareness of the importance of regular skin checks in Richardson.
Each member of our team was carefully selected by Dr. McGuiness based on credentials like board certification, experience, and commitment to patient care.
Frequently Asked Questions
We hear all kinds of questions regarding skin checks, and we are here to answer them.
Do you accept my insurance?
We accept several major health insurance plans, including:
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO/HMO
- Aetna PPO/HMO
- Aetna Texas Health
- Baylor Scott & White
- BCBS Blue Advantage HMO
- BCBS PPO/HMO
- BCBS Medicare Advantage
- Care N Care
- Cigna PPO/OAP/HMO
- Coalition America (NPPN)
- First Health
- Galaxy Healthcare
- HealthEZ
- Healthsmart PPO/Accel/GEPO
- Humana Choice Care PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage PPO/HMO
- IMS PPO
- Medicare
- MultiPlan
- Oscar
- PHCS
- Railroad Medicare
- Scott and White
- UHC PPO/HMO
- UHC Medicare Advantage PPO/HMO
- Wellmed
If you don’t see your insurance on the list, you can contact our office and speak to a representative about our financing options.
Why do you need to check every area of the body?
Unfortunately, certain skin cancers, like melanoma, can spread and appear in areas that don’t receive sun exposure.
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans cancer rarely spreads, but can appear like a bruise: flat, painless, and discolored. It can be hard to identify on your own, especially when it appears in parts of your body that are prone to bruising, like your shoulders, arms, and legs. This cancer also appears on your scalp, buttocks, and inside of your mouth—parts of your body that may be more difficult to check yourself.
Do I need a skin check more than once a year?
While most patients only need a skin check once a year, others require either bi-annual checks or more frequent ones if they fall under the following categories:
- Medical history or family history of skin cancer.
- A history of prolonged sun exposure and tanning bed UV exposure.
- If you have moles.
- If you have actinic keratosis (precancerous skin growths).
During your first skin check, we can discuss how often you should visit our office for this quick, 10-minute exam.
Schedule Your Skin Check
Scheduling your skin exam near Frisco is easy. All you have to do is request a consultation or try our treatment planning tool.
