The most Endorsed Skin Screening Recommendations

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the US.

Taking care to use sun screen, avoid sun, and maintaining healthy lifestyle will help prevent skin cancers, however, early detection is our best defense against skin cancer.

US Preventive Services Task Force says: “The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of visual skin examination by a clinician to screen for skin cancer in adults.” Although their site says the recommendations are again under review.

The American Cancer Society says: Monthly skin self examination, with total body skin examinations every 3 years between ages 20 and 39 and every year after that. And several societies have various options that vary from screening only the high risk, to everyone getting a yearly skin exam.

All guidelines say be self aware and report any changed moles or dark spots.

But given how varied the advice is, it’s just an area that you and your primary care physician will have to review on an ongoing basis to help you sort out the recommendations.

Your medical provider of laser therapy will be watching the treatment areas carefully for any changed areas they feel need more evaluation.