A full skin check could save your life
Skin cancer can occur on areas of the body that do not see the sun. As such the Skin Alert skin doctors conduct full head to toe skin checks including beneath undergarments.
If you do consent to having an all over body skin check, wish to have a chaperone present at the time of consultation or have any specific cultural or special concerns please inform one of our staff when arriving at reception or discuss this directly with your treating doctor prior to having your skin check. Skin Alert also has a female skin doctor available for patients with a personal preference.
Melanoma
- The most dangerous skin cancer.
- If untreated, cancer cells spread to other parts of the body. If treated early, 95% are cured.
- Appears as a new spot, or an existing spot, freckle or mole that changes colour, size or shape.
- Usually has an irregular or smudgy outline and is more than one colour.
- Grows over weeks to months, anywhere on the body.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
- Not as dangerous as melanoma but may spread to other parts of the body if not treated.
- A thickened red, scaly spot. Later it may bleed easily or ulcerate.
- Appears on sites most often exposed to the sun.
- Grows over some months.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
- Most common and least dangerous skin cancer.
- Appears as a lump or scaling area.
- Red, pale or pearly in colour.
- As it grows it may become ulcerated like an unhealing sore or one that heals then breaks down again.
- Grows slowly, usually on the head, neck and upper torso.
Dysplastic Naevi
- Not skin cancer, but a warning that you may be more prone to melanoma.
- Often flat, fairly large moles which share some of the features of early melanoma.
- Characterised by irregular boarders and uneven colour with multiple shades of brown and sometimes pink.
Solar Keratoses
- Not a skin cancer but a warning that you are prone to developing skin cancer.
- Characterised by red, flattish, scaling areas which may sting if scratched.
- Sunspots appear on sun exposed skin in the over 40 age group.
Freckles and Moles
- Freckles are harmless coloured spots that range in size from 1 to 10mm.
- Moles are evenly coloured and may be raised although they do not have to be.
- Moles have clear, even edges and are usually circular or oval in shape.
Seborrhoeic Keratoses
- By the age of 60, most people have at least one or two.
- They have a very discrete edge and frequently sit up on top of the skin.
- Colour varies from pale skin through orange to black.
- Size varies from few millimetres to 2cm.