Early January is the perfect time for an annual skin check in order to start the year off right. Your doctor or dermatologist will be the official say-so during this exam, but there are some things you can do to make sure nothing is overlooked.

Before your skin check, remove nail polish on fingers and toes to expose nails and nail beds, as skin cancer can form there. Perform a full-body skin self-exam and make note of any new or changing growths. Once you arrive at your appointment, alert the doctor of any changes you may have noticed. Most exams are brief- shorter if you’ve never had abnormal growths, longer if you have more moles to examine.

While it’s important for everyone to visit the doctor for a skin check-up, there are factors that can indicate whether or not you are more susceptible to skin cancer. People with fair skin, red or blond hair, or blue eyes are more likely to get skin cancer. If you have more than 50 moles or a family history of melanoma, do a skin self-exam once a month to check for new growths. Finally, sun exposure and frequent trips to the tanning salon increase your risk of skin cancer and should be checked regularly.

If you have any questions about changes in your skin, please call us today at 865-690-9467. Skin health is an important part of total body wellness. Schedule an appointment with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential.