A skin cancer screening is an appointment where a doctor checks your skin for moles or spots that could be cancer. Most of these exams are performed by a dermatologist, and the goal is straightforward: a thorough look at your skin for signs or pre-signs of skin cancer while they are still small and easy to treat. If you have been putting off a check, or if you have never had one, the visit itself is usually shorter and simpler than people expect.

Colorado Dermatology Center is a South Denver dermatology practice led by board-certified dermatologist Dr. James M. Swinehart, with more than three decades of clinical experience and a strong focus on skin cancer treatment, including MOHS surgery. Here is what a screening involves, how to prepare, and how to know when you should book one sooner rather than later.

What a Skin Cancer Screening Actually Is

A screening is a visual examination, not a laboratory test. A dermatologist scans the body looking for abnormal moles, changes in moles, or suspicious lesions. That means the appointment is built around observation and a conversation about your skin history rather than bloodwork or imaging.

Screenings sit inside a broader prevention strategy. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that adults see a dermatologist at least once a year for a professional skin examination, and it positions that annual visit alongside everyday sun protection. The Foundation also advises making an appointment any time you notice something new, changing, or unusual on your skin, without waiting for your next scheduled check.

How Often You Should Be Screened

A once-a-year exam is the general recommendation for adults. Your own schedule may look different depending on what your dermatologist finds and on factors you discuss during the visit, such as your history of sun exposure, prior skin cancers, or a large number of moles. Some patients are asked to return more often than annually, and others are fine on the standard yearly rhythm.

The practical takeaway is to treat the annual exam as a baseline rather than a ceiling. If your dermatologist wants to see you again in six months, that is a clinical judgment about your skin, not a sign that something is wrong.

What Happens During the Visit

Before the exam

You will typically be asked about your history: sun exposure, tanning bed use, family history of skin cancer, and any spots you have noticed on your own. This is the moment to point out anything that has been bothering you, even if it seems minor. A spot you have been watching for months is useful information for the person examining you.

The visual scan

The core of the appointment is the scan itself. The dermatologist looks over your skin for abnormal moles, changes in moles, and suspicious lesions. You will be asked to undress to your comfort level so that areas beyond your face and arms can be checked, including the scalp, back, and areas that rarely see the sun. Skin cancer does not only appear on parts of the body that get direct sunlight.

After the scan

If everything looks stable, the visit ends with a plan for when to come back and what to watch for in between. If something catches the dermatologist’s attention, you will talk through what was seen and what the next step is. Ask questions here. Understanding what your dermatologist is watching and why makes it much easier to follow through on the plan.

How Long a Screening Takes

Most skin check visits take about 10 to 15 minutes. Your appointment may run a little longer if it is your first visit or if you have a lot of moles, since both take more time to review and document. Plan for a bit of buffer around the appointment rather than scheduling something immediately afterward.

When to Book Sooner Than Your Annual Exam

An annual exam is a schedule, not a rule about when you are allowed to call. You should see a dermatologist right away for a skin cancer check if you notice a growth on your skin that lasts for two weeks or longer and is growing or changing. New, changing, or unusual spots also warrant an appointment before your next routine visit.

That guidance is intentionally simple, because the changes that matter most are often the ones you can describe in plain language: this mole got darker, this spot is bigger than it was, this bump was not here last summer. Trust that observation. You do not need to diagnose anything yourself to justify booking a check.

Self-Exams Between Appointments

Monthly self-exams help you learn what is normal for your own skin, which makes it easier to notice when something changes. The American Academy of Dermatology offers a body mole map you can use to perform a self-exam, learn what to look for, and record your spots so you can refer back during your next visit with your dermatologist. Bringing those notes to your appointment gives your dermatologist a clearer timeline than memory alone.

A self-exam does not replace a professional screening. It is a way to stay familiar with your skin so that you arrive at your annual visit with useful information instead of a vague sense that something might have changed.

Choosing Where to Have Your Screening in Denver

Look for a board-certified dermatologist with experience in both diagnosis and treatment, since the same practice can often handle whatever comes next if a spot needs attention. Colorado Dermatology Center handles medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology in South Denver, and its skin cancer work includes MOHS micrographic surgery, a technique used for certain skin cancers. Practices that also run clinical research may have additional options available for qualifying patients.

It also helps to ask how the practice handles follow-up. If a screening leads to a biopsy or a treatment recommendation, you want to know who performs it, where it happens, and how results are communicated.

Preparing for Your Appointment

• Remove nail polish from your fingers and toes before the visit so the skin underneath can be examined.
• Skip self-tanner and heavy makeup on the day of the exam.
• Bring a list of spots you want checked, with notes on when you first noticed them and what has changed.
• Write down your history of sunburns, tanning bed use, and any prior skin cancer diagnoses or treatments.
• Bring the name of any family member who has had skin cancer.
• Ask about your insurance coverage and any out-of-pocket cost before the appointment rather than after.

Cost, Coverage, and What to Confirm in Advance

Screening costs vary by practice and by how the visit is coded for insurance, and the research behind this article does not establish a standard price. Call the practice and your insurer directly to confirm what your plan covers for a routine skin exam compared with a visit for a specific concern. Those two situations are often handled differently, and knowing which one applies to you prevents billing surprises.

If cost is a barrier, ask whether the practice offers any lower-cost screening events or whether a visit focused on a specific spot would be covered differently than a full-body exam. A short phone call answers most of these questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a skin cancer screening take?

Most skin check visits take about 10 to 15 minutes. Your appointment may run longer if it is your first visit or if you have a lot of moles, since both take additional time to review and document. It is reasonable to allow extra time around the appointment, especially for a first screening.

How often should I see a dermatologist for a skin exam?

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that adults see a dermatologist at least once a year for a professional skin examination. Your dermatologist may recommend a different interval based on what is found during the exam and on your personal history, so treat the annual visit as a starting point rather than a fixed rule.

What is a dermatologist looking for during a screening?

A dermatologist visually scans the body, looking for abnormal moles, changes in moles, or suspicious lesions. The exam is a thorough check rather than a quick glance at one spot, which is why areas like the scalp and back are included. Anything you have noticed on your own is worth pointing out during the visit.

When should I book a check instead of waiting for my annual exam?

See a dermatologist right away if you notice a growth on your skin that lasts for two weeks or longer and is growing or changing. The Skin Cancer Foundation also advises booking an appointment any time you see something new, changing, or unusual on your skin rather than waiting for your next scheduled visit.

Can I check my own skin between appointments?

Yes. The American Academy of Dermatology offers a body mole map that you can use to perform a self-exam, learn what to look for, and record your spots so you can refer back during your next visit with your dermatologist. Self-exams support professional screenings, but they do not replace them.