Note: Patients may ask not to have such an exam and just concentrate on the specific problem that brings them to see Dr. Kaminester, but having one (at no extra charge) could save your life as it has for hundreds of Dr. Kaminester’s patients!
Dr. Kaminester was the first dermatologist, early in his career, to publish on the importance of having a dermatologist do a complete skin exam on his patients. Full-body skin exams are an essential method of screening patients for benign or cancerous lesions that they may not have been able to see or recognize on their own. By using a 5x magnifier and looking at all of your skin, Dr. Kaminester in North Palm Beach can often find potentially life-threatening growths in a timely manner. From head to toe and back to front, he inspects the skin for any suspicious growths. This quick and painless preventive measure is an invaluable tool in the early detection of skin cancer as well as many other dermatological conditions. Many patients are very appreciative for Dr. Kaminester’s thorough evaluations during which he has found melanomas which have saved their lives!
Dr. Kaminester’s office has the latest OR-type exam lights and electric tables to make such examinations as efficient and effective as possible. There is always a medical assistant present in the room with the doctor and patient. Dr. Kaminester likes the patient to look at their skin with him so he can point out the various benign and sometimes malignant growths he sees and then discuss them with the patient.
Medical attention is necessary after noticing any skin changes, as early detection is valuable in successfully treating skin cancer. Regular full body screening is recommended as well. A biopsy is usually performed to accurately diagnose suspected cancerous growths.
While most moles and other skin growths are not of medical concern, it is important to screen for cancer and other skin conditions that can develop in some cases. Full-body skin exams to detect any new moles and growths, as well as to monitor existing growths, are recommended on a yearly basis in order to screen for skin cancer and detect any abnormalities in their earliest stages. To classify a mole, Dr. Kaminester will evaluate its color, size, border and any asymmetries that may indicate a potential for cancer. If any suspicious lesions are found during this exam, additional testing will likely be performed.
If there are any marks on your body that concern you, it’s important to bring them to the attention of Dr. Kaminester. Anything he finds suspicious during the full-body skin exam will be biopsied or simply excised on that same visit. That means that Dr. Kaminester will cut away a small portion of the skin in the area in question or remove it completely but simply on that same visit and send it to a lab for evaluation. When the lab results return, Dr. Kaminester will discuss with you whether the spot needs further treatment or just to be watched.
The examination itself does not take long. Dr. Kaminester and his assistant will examine your skin from your head to your feet, including often overlooked areas such as the scalp and fingernails, but primarily focusing on any existing moles along the way. Feel free to ask Dr. Kaminester for tips and booklets on how to perform self-exams at home as well.
Contact us to schedule a consultation or to learn more about Full-body Skin Exams
