Skin checks: what to look for between appointments
A mole that changes is worth showing us. One that has looked the same for twenty years almost never is.
The change is the signal
Growth, an irregular border, more than one colour, itching or bleeding, and any spot that stands out from the others on your skin. Photograph anything you are unsure about so you can compare in a month.
Who should be screened yearly
Fair skin, a history of blistering sunburn, a family history of melanoma, a large number of moles, or previous skin cancer. Everyone else should simply know their own skin.
What a clinic appointment involves
A full skin examination with a dermatoscope, photography of anything worth watching, and a same-visit excision if a lesion needs removing.
Clinical lead at the Carlton practice. Dr. Lindqvist writes the patient guides on this site and runs the general medicine clinic on Wednesdays.
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