Pleae share your experience with full body checkup at dermatologist

[snapppyd]

I've never been to a dermatologist before, but I know I should since I spend way too much time sun bathing (always have).

What is an approximate cost for a full body scan?

With my insurance we will have a co-pay of $31 each.

 

[PlutoPony]

My husband goes in at least 2x/year for the scan as he spent a lot of time outdoors in his youth with no sunscreen and sensitive skin. He's paying for it now.

His doctor does use a magnifying class and virtually every time finds several suspicious spots that he just burns off. Quick, easy, just leaves a red spot for a few days. It's also not unusual for him to find a spot that he does a biopsy on, so he scrapes a little off and send it to the lab. IF it comes back precancerous or cancerous, my husband goes back to the office a couple weeks later and the doctor removes the spot, using a local anesthesia and a stitch or 2 to close the wound. How painful/annoying that is depends entirely on where the spot is but healing has been quick.

Shouldn't be too painful if you catch any problems early. Good luck!

 

[snapppyd]

I'm back and it was so easy! If anyone is hesitating, don't.

DH and I both had appointments, they let us go in together. I put on a gown over my bra and panties. He checked me visually, asked if anything was bothering me. I told him about two spots I was worried about. He removed them and sent them for biopsies, but told me they were from age. Thanks doc, lol!

DH was in a bathing suit (yes, we were on our way to the beach). Said everything on him was also just from age and the sun. Froze a little bump on his nose and two on his head, no biopsy.

We go back in about 4 weeks just to check that everything heals properly. I have peace of mind now, sorry I waited so long.

If you are embarrassed to go, don't be. The whole thing was over in maybe ten minutes and the doctor was very matter of fact and professional.

 

[Gigi22]

I'm back and it was so easy! If anyone is hesitating, don't.

DH and I both had appointments, they let us go in together. I put on a gown over my bra and panties. He checked me visually, asked if anything was bothering me. I told him about two spots I was worried about. He removed them and sent them for biopsies, but told me they were from age. Thanks doc, lol!

DH was in a bathing suit (yes, we were on our way to the beach). Said everything on him was also just from age and the sun. Froze a little bump on his nose and two on his head, no biopsy.

We go back in about 4 weeks just to check that everything heals properly. I have peace of mind now, sorry I waited so long.

If you are embarrassed to go, don't be. The whole thing was over in maybe ten minutes and the doctor was very matter of fact and professional.

They're very fast appointments. My derm. always asks me if I have noticed changes to any moles. If the derm. spots something, she will either burn (CO2) or cut it if off to be biopsied. Love my derm., she's a peach!

 

[Hisgirl]

I went for the first time this year too.
I was asked beforehand to narrow down to any specific moles that I wanted her to look at. I had 4.
She came in and looked at those first, told me that one wasn't even a mole- asked some questions about the others and then ruled them out as being dangerous. She then quickly looked over my body (QUICKLY!) and said "remember to use sun screen and we'll see you next year"

Good luck OP!

I think I'd be finding myself a new dermotologist. That's a bit ridiculous. How can you, a layperson, be expected to decide what mole or skin area looks suspicious? Did you go to medical school? I've never, EVER, heard of a doctor doing this.

I take this pretty seriously as I've known folks who died from melanoma. We go once a year and I choose a derm doctor who is MOHS trained. This is the most effective way to remove a skin cancer. He takes plenty of time to look over my body (panties on) and does not rush. Sometimes he'll take a biopsy. Seriously, you really should consider finding a different doctor. But congrats for going in the first place!

 

[minkydog]

I have fair skin, light brown hair and green eyes, so you can just imagine how easily I sunburn. I had several severe sunburns as a youngster. My skin looks surprisingly good; I have my grandmother's English roses & cream skin, probably because I haven't ever been one to seek out tanning, nor do I smoke. I want to keep it that way.

Every year I have a full-body mole check. Like others have said, it's a FULL BODY check. My doctor uses a bright portable light and a magnifying glass and looks everywhere, even between my fingers and toes. I have had two basal cells removed from my nose this year and I'm about to have a small basal cell cancer removed from my upper arm. My derm did MOHS surgery on my nose cancers and you can barely even see the scars. I can cover them easily with makeup.

I don't worry too much about skin cancer. Most skin cancers are minor basal cells, which are relatively slow-growing and very easy to treat with excision. Having yearly full-body checks will help you and your doctor keep an eye out for changes.

I only know one guy personally, who had melanoma. He had a bump on his face that he thought was a pimple. He picked at it and messed with it for almost a year, while it got bigger and nastier. Finally he went to the doctor. It was stage 4 melanoma by then and it killed him within a year, despite radical surgery and radiation. Such a shame. He was only in his 40s and he may have been able to fight it if he had just gone to the doctor and had it checked early.

 

[snapppyd]

How does melanoma kill so quickly? Does it spread internally?

On another note, I asked if there are any creams that really reduce age spots. The doctor told me no, you can freeze them off but they will come back. So much for wasting money on all these products that are pushed by celebrities who never had a spot to begin with

 

[phorsenuf]

I think I'd be finding myself a new dermotologist. That's a bit ridiculous. How can you, a layperson, be expected to decide what mole or skin area looks suspicious? Did you go to medical school? I've never, EVER, heard of a doctor doing this.

I take this pretty seriously as I've known folks who died from melanoma. We go once a year and I choose a derm doctor who is MOHS trained. This is the most effective way to remove a skin cancer. He takes plenty of time to look over my body (panties on) and does not rush. Sometimes he'll take a biopsy. Seriously, you really should consider finding a different doctor. But congrats for going in the first place!

I think it makes plenty of sense. A Dr. is not with you 24/7 to see if a mole or spot has gone through any changes over time. I have a couple of spots that I need looked at. The only reason I think about them is because they've changed over time. How exactly would a Dr know that those spots look ant different did then they did say 6 months ago? Yes, they are Drs but they aren't psychics.

 

[lucas]

I'm back and it was so easy! If anyone is hesitating, don't.

DH and I both had appointments, they let us go in together. I put on a gown over my bra and panties. He checked me visually, asked if anything was bothering me. I told him about two spots I was worried about. He removed them and sent them for biopsies, but told me they were from age. Thanks doc, lol!

DH was in a bathing suit (yes, we were on our way to the beach). Said everything on him was also just from age and the sun. Froze a little bump on his nose and two on his head, no biopsy.

We go back in about 4 weeks just to check that everything heals properly. I have peace of mind now, sorry I waited so long.

If you are embarrassed to go, don't be. The whole thing was over in maybe ten minutes and the doctor was very matter of fact and professional.

Thanks for reporting back. I must make my appointment and DO IT!

 

[Disneychix]

Great Update OP! So glad you have more peice of mind.

I think I'd be finding myself a new dermotologist. That's a bit ridiculous. How can you, a layperson, be expected to decide what mole or skin area looks suspicious? Did you go to medical school? I've never, EVER, heard of a doctor doing this.

This was my 1st time at this Dr.
She didn't only look at the 4 spots, one wasn't even a mole and it was the one spot I was most worried about. I've seen this spot grow and change over the last 4 years- it is an under-skin wound from a bug bite or something. So If I wouldn't have mentioned this I would've still been worried about it.
Another mole caused concern to a MASH dr that I had seen earlier that month. It didn't really concern me because I've always had it and knew what the edges looked like-sorta stretched from 2 pregnancies-but I pointed out that one because the other Dr was so worried about it.

I think it makes plenty of sense. A Dr. is not with you 24/7 to see if a mole or spot has gone through any changes over time. I have a couple of spots that I need looked at. The only reason I think about them is because they've changed over time. How exactly would a Dr know that those spots look ant different did then they did say 6 months ago? Yes, they are Drs but they aren't psychics.

Thanks, makes perfect sense.


To the PP who asked how much this appt was, I have a high-deductable plan and I had to pay $40 upfront and I was just billed another $60. So $100 for me.

 

[Sunburnt]

I started out with my NP checking my moles because of a suspicious mole. She sent me to a dermotologist for further checkup. Just down to underwear with shown. She noticed a rash spot around the ends of underwear and had me drop those. I now have to disrobe everything with a gown. Not a big deal anymore as I just listen to her talk about the skin and dangers of suntanning. Appointment is over in no time. Have had melanomas removed from me. Glad I go in so I don't miss anything. Go twice a year.

 

[L&Lfan]

Are there actually people who still do tanning? Everyone I know who does uses spray tanning. In fact almost all of the tanning bed places I used to pass on the road have closed. I guess people still lay out on the beach or in their backyards. I’d be curious to hear about a 2020 perspective on tanning. It’s been over 40 years since I’ve deliberately gone out in the sun for the purpose of tanning... and I live on the coast.

 

[Sunburnt]

I know my supervisor just went on vacation. She did the tanning sessions. I live in a smaller town and I know the high school kids use the tanning beds before prom.

 

[leebee]

I teach at a University; many of the girls go tanning ALL the time. They are young, and I suspect therefore feel "it won't happen to me."

 

[mjkacmom]

Are there actually people who still do tanning? Everyone I know who does uses spray tanning. In fact almost all of the tanning bed places I used to pass on the road have closed. I guess people still lay out on the beach or in their backyards. I’d be curious to hear about a 2020 perspective on tanning. It’s been over 40 years since I’ve deliberately gone out in the sun for the purpose of tanning... and I live on the coast.

There are several tanning places within 2 miles of my house. One was closed down because cameras were found in the beds, videos were sold to overseas porn sites (dd18 was tanning for the first time in her life at another facility when the news came out, she usually gets spray tanned for fancy events but got too much natural tan by that point, and her prom dress was white).

 

[brockash]

When I had my first full body check several years ago, I had stripped down to everything but my underwear and placed the gown on. The male doctor walked in, barely said Hi, didn't make eye contact, pulled my gown straight out, looked down the front and left. All I could think was, "Gee - couldn't you have bought me dinner first?"

Of course, he came back in and did a thorough check and then severely chastised me about my tanning; yes, I know I deserved it, that's not my point. But he was pretty overweight and when he told me "You need to stay out of tanning beds" I so wanted to tell him "Well, you need to stay out of restaurants."

And I only thought that snide remark because of his snide bedside manner.

Hmmm....odd, I wouldn't have thought twice about the comment as that's his job and the whole reason I was there. Kinda like how I know when I go to the dentist they're going to get onto me about not flossing enough...it's there job. I definitely wouldn't take it personal...especially when I made the appointment.

 

[Pembo]

Tanning beds are quite prevalent here in Ohio. The local Planet Fitness has 4 of them! Two girls in my daughter's dance classes are so tan they look artificial and there mothers encourage them to go. As someone who has had basal cell's removed, I have no idea why anyone would go in a tanning bed.

 

[Sunburnt]

I've never been to a dermatologist before, but I know I should since I spend way too much time sun bathing (always have).

What is an approximate cost for a full body scan?

With insurance I have a 20.00 copay. I have heard about 200.00 for a checkup. Besides waiting time, in and out in about 10 minutes or less.

 

[DLgal]

My general practitioner does a full body skin check as part of my annual physical. I once went to a dermatologist to get one and he spent less time than my primary care doctor usually does. So, I'm not bothering with an actual dermatologist anymore unless I notice a new, suspicious growth.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

There are Dr's who participate in FREE SCREENINGS during Skin Cancer Awareness. For anyone "thinking" they need to have a check up, this could be your 1st step.