PDMD Feed / Blog / Category / January 2022 https://www.premierdermatologymd.com/ 2026-04-17 https://www.premierdermatologymd.com/static/images/social/32/rss.png https://www.premierdermatologymd.com/ To subscribe just copy and paste the URL of this page into your RSS reader <p>1. Dermatologists look&nbsp;EVERYWHERE.</p> <p>Yes, everywhere.&nbsp; From the top of the head down to in-between toes, including the groin area and buttocks.&nbsp; Skin cancers and abnormal moles can come up where the sun doesn&#39;t shine, so it&#39;s important to have a thorough exam.&nbsp; There&#39;s no need to feel shy or embarrassed.&nbsp; Dermatologists are medical doctors who, in addition to completing four years of medical school, have had an additional four years of internship and residency training.&nbsp; To become board certified like Dr. Bilu Martin, dermatologists take a rigorous board exam and re-certify every 10 years.&nbsp; Our medical training and experience make dermatologists&nbsp;the experts in skin conditions.</p> <p>2. Skin exams&nbsp;should be done once a year.</p> <p>Just like a yearly checkup at the internist, regular full skin examinations allow for earlier detection and treatment of skin cancer and abnormal moles.&nbsp; People with a history of melanoma or multiple non-melanoma skin cancers may require more frequent exams, based on their dermatologist&#39;s recommendations.&nbsp;</p> <p>3. Dermatologists are&nbsp;not concerned with hairy legs or non-pedicured toes.&nbsp; Or non-matching undergarments.</p> <p>Your doctor does not care if you haven&#39;t shaved all winter long!&nbsp; Dermatologists are busy looking for suspicious spots when we conduct our exams.</p> <p>4. Early detection saves lives.</p> <p>Diagnosing and treating skin cancer such as melanoma in its earliest stages greatly improves prognosis.&nbsp; In fact, for very early stage melanoma located at the site where it started, the 5 year survival is 99%.&nbsp; When basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas are found early, they can be easily treated in the office.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>5. Kids can get full body skin examinations.</p> <p>Having family members with melanoma, being fair skinned, having light eyes, and a history of sunburns all increase the risk of melanoma and other types of skin cancer.&nbsp; Kids with many&nbsp;moles or with risk factors would benefit from skin exams.</p> <p>Take care of yourself and your loved ones and schedule a full body skin exam in 2022!&nbsp;</p> https://www.premierdermatologymd.com/blog/the-ins-and-outs-of-a-full-body-skin-exam-at-the-dermatologist 1 2022-01-11