Skin Checks in Werribee

Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, and Werribee’s open, sunny west gets plenty of UV. Most skin cancers can be treated successfully when they are found early. The difficulty is that early changes are easy to miss, especially on your back, scalp or the backs of your legs.

A skin check with one of our GPs gives you a careful, systematic look at your whole skin, including the places you can’t see yourself.

What Happens During a Skin Check

Your GP will ask about your sun exposure over the years, any previous skin cancers, and whether anyone in your family has had melanoma. You’ll then be examined from scalp to soles. Your doctor may use a dermatoscope, a handheld magnifying light that shows structures beneath the skin surface, to look more closely at any spot of concern.

If something needs attention, your GP will explain the options. These may include a biopsy, removal or a specialist referral. Minor skin procedures are part of our range of in-clinic procedures, so many patients can have a suspicious lesion dealt with locally. Lesions that only need watching can be photographed and compared at your next visit.

Who Should Book a Skin Check?

Anyone can benefit from a skin check, but it is especially worth booking if you:

• Have fair skin, lots of moles or a history of sunburn

• Have had a skin cancer before

• Have a family history of melanoma

• Work outdoors or spend a lot of time in the sun

• Notice a spot that is new, changing, bleeding or simply looks different from the others

Between visits, check your own skin every few months. Look for new spots and for changes in size, shape or colour.