Our Services / Annual Skin Checks

If you’re at risk of skin cancer, have a lot of moles, or develop unusual tissue changes, annual skin checks are for you. At Aloe Dermatology in Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez, and Solvang, California, the dermatology specialists offer yearly skin checks to rule out cancer or detect it in its early stages. Call the nearest office to schedule an annual skin check, or use the online booking feature today.

What are annual skin checks?

Annual (yearly) skin checks at Aloe Dermatology include dermatology assessments that allow your specialist to evaluate your skin for abnormal tissues that may indicate cancer or other dermatologic conditions. Such skin checks are important preventive measures, especially if you’re at risk of developing skin cancer.

Are annual skin checks right for me?

Unless otherwise directed, schedule skin checks every year. Your Aloe Dermatology provider asks about your symptoms, medical history, and whether or not you’ve noticed new skin changes. They check for:

• Warts
• Skin cancer
• Atypical moles
• Scarring
• New or changing growths
• Actinic keratosis (pre-cancers)

Your provider looks for signs of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, or other forms of skin cancer.  Skin cancer is the most common cancer. Skin checks are highly effective methods of detecting cancer and other troublesome skin conditions.

The symptoms of skin cancer include waxy or pearly bumps, bleeding or scabbing lesions, red nodules, and moles that change in size, color, or shape.

What are the benefits of annual skin checks?

The main benefit of yearly skin checks is the early detection of skin cancer. Finding skin cancer soon after it develops is the best way to remove it before it grows and potentially spreads to other areas of your body and requires more invasive, expensive medical intervention.

What should I expect during annual skin checks?

During annual skin exams at Aloe Dermatology, your specialist looks at your skin from head to toe. They may use a magnifying glass to get a closer view of irregular tissues or complete a biopsy and send biopsied tissues to a lab for analysis. Some skin conditions like non-cancerous moles, skin tags, and warts aren’t dangerous, but you might still prefer to have them removed. 

What happens after annual skin checks?

Your Aloe Dermatology provider lets you know if you’re a candidate for treatment after completing an annual skin check. They offer freezing, laser treatments, and surgical removal of abnormal tissues, including Mohs surgery to get rid of skin cancer without significant scarring. 

To schedule an annual skin check at Aloe Dermatology, call the office or use the online booking tab today.