In honor of Skin Cancer Awareness Month, this episode explains what a full-body skin exam (skin check) is, why annual exams are recommended for most people, and what patients can expect at the visit, including gowning, the role of a medical assistant, and common comfort concerns. They outline how providers systematically examine the entire skin surface—including scalp, between toes, and sometimes genital areas—and discuss what dermatologists look for, from benign lesions to melanoma using the ABCDE criteria, plus basal cell, squamous cell, and precancerous actinic keratoses, often aided by a dermatoscope. The episode covers biopsies, liquid nitrogen freezing, risk factors like sun exposure, blistering sunburns, and certain occupations, and offers practical prep tips such as minimizing makeup and nail polish, bringing photos, and obtaining prior biopsy records.

00:00 Sun Exposure Risk Jobs

00:15 Skin Cancer Awareness Intro

00:58 What Is a Skin Check

01:55 Arrival and Gowning

03:56 Exam Steps and Chaperone

05:31 Surprising Areas Checked

06:31 What Dermatologists Spot

07:54 Melanoma ABCDEs Explained

10:20 Other Skin Cancers

12:59 Derm Exam Vocabulary

14:34 Biopsy Basics Demystified

16:14 First Visit Worries

18:28 Other Skin Issues and Time

19:25 Skin Exam vs Rash Visit

20:56 How Long It Takes

21:43 How to Prepare

23:39 Bring Records and History

24:41 How Often to Check

26:30 Risk Factors and Sun Exposure

28:18 When a Spot Looks Suspicious

30:18 Liquid Nitrogen Freezing

33:19 Final Tips and Encouragement