What Happens During a Skin Check?

A skin check is one of those appointments most of us know we probably should book — but aren’t quite sure what to expect from. Will your GP examine every single mole? Do you need to get undressed? What happens if something looks off? And how do you even know which spots are worth mentioning?

At Shire Family Medical, skin checks are part of our broader approach to preventative care. The aim is straightforward: look at what’s new or changing, talk through your individual risk factors, and work out what — if anything — needs to happen next.

Here’s what you can expect from the appointment, how to get the most out of it, and why catching changes early really does make a difference.

Why Skin Checks Matter in Australia

Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world — and it’s not hard to see why. Years of sun exposure, childhood sunburn, outdoor work and sport all add up over time. Add in fair skin, a family history of skin cancer, or a number of changing moles, and your risk picture becomes more nuanced.

The tricky thing about skin cancer is that it isn’t always obvious. Some skin cancers appear as a new spot you’ve never noticed before. Others develop from an existing mole or patch of skin that starts — slowly, subtly — to change. A lesion might bleed or crust. It might itch, become scaly, or simply fail to heal the way you’d expect. Sometimes it just looks a bit different from everything else on your skin.

Because these changes can be so subtle, a skin check is useful even when you’re not sure whether something is serious. Your GP can take a closer look and advise whether the spot needs monitoring, treatment, a biopsy or onward referral.

What Your GP Is Looking For

During a skin check, your GP is looking for any changes that might warrant a closer look — moles, freckles, sunspots, lumps, scaly patches, sores that won’t heal, or anything that looks a bit different from the surrounding skin.

A useful starting point for thinking about suspicious moles is the ABCDE guide:

• Asymmetry: one half of the spot looks noticeably different from the other.
• Border: the edge is irregular, notched or appears to be spreading.
• Colour: the spot has more than one colour, or its colour has changed.
• Diameter: the spot is getting bigger.
• Evolving: anything about the spot — its size, shape, colour, surface or feel — is changing.

The ABCDE guide is a helpful framework, but it doesn’t cover everything. Some skin cancers don’t follow a neat checklist at all. That’s why any spot that’s new, changing, bleeding, crusting, itchy, tender, or simply different from your others deserves attention — even if it doesn’t tick every box.

How to Prepare for a Skin Check

A little preparation goes a long way. Before your appointment, it’s worth taking a few minutes to:

• Note down any spots you’re worried about, so you don’t forget to mention them.
• Take photos of any spot that seems to be changing — a side-by-side comparison can be genuinely useful.
• Remove nail polish if you’d like your nails checked.
• Skip heavy makeup if you have any facial spots of concern.
• Wear clothing that’s easy to remove if a full-body check is planned.
• Let your GP know about any previous skin cancers, biopsies or treatments.
• Mention any family history of melanoma or skin cancer.

If you’re specifically after a full-body skin check rather than just having a particular spot looked at, let reception know when you book. That way, enough time can be set aside — a dedicated skin check appointment is quite different from briefly mentioning a spot at the end of an unrelated consultation.

What Happens During the Appointment?

Your GP will usually start by having a conversation — asking about your skin history, any spots you’ve noticed, and whether anything has changed recently. They may ask how long a lesion has been there, whether it’s grown or changed colour, whether it bleeds or crusts, and whether you’ve had significant sun exposure or previous skin cancers.

For a more thorough review, you may be asked to remove outer clothing so your skin can be examined properly. You’re welcome to ask questions at any point, and you can have a support person with you if that makes you more comfortable.

Your GP may check the face, ears, scalp line, neck, arms, hands, trunk, back, legs and feet. It’s worth knowing that skin cancers can sometimes develop in areas not regularly exposed to the sun, so don’t hesitate to mention any spot that’s been on your mind — wherever it is.

At Shire Family Medical, our Skin Cancer Checks & Mole Examinations service includes dermatoscopy — a magnified examination of skin features that aren’t always visible to the naked eye.

What Is Dermatoscopy?

Dermatoscopy uses a handheld device called a dermatoscope to look at the structures, colours and patterns within a mole or lesion far more closely than the eye alone can manage.

It doesn’t turn a skin check into an instant diagnosis. What it does is add detail — helping your GP see beneath the surface appearance of a spot and make a more informed decision about what, if anything, needs to happen next. If a lesion has concerning features, your GP might recommend monitoring, photography, a biopsy, removal, cryotherapy or referral, depending on what they find.

What If Something Looks Concerning?

If your GP identifies something that warrants further assessment, they’ll explain clearly what they’ve found and why they’re recommending the next step. Finding a concerning spot doesn’t automatically mean you have skin cancer — many spots need checking, monitoring or sampling before there’s a clear answer.

Depending on what’s found, your GP may recommend:

• Monitoring the spot and reviewing it after a set period.
• Clinical photography so changes can be compared over time.
• Cryotherapy for selected lesions where clinically appropriate.
• A biopsy or minor procedure.
• Referral to a dermatologist, surgeon or another specialist.

Some minor procedures can be carried out on site where appropriate. More complex cases may need referral. Either way, your GP will walk you through why a particular path is being recommended.

How Often Should You Have a Skin Check?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here. The right frequency depends on your risk factors, skin history and what your GP finds at each visit.

Some people — those with a history of skin cancer, many moles, a strong family history, significant sun exposure, fair skin or immune suppression — may need more regular checks. Others may only need periodic review, or a check when something new appears.

Rather than going by a general rule, it’s worth asking your GP directly: how often should I be coming back? For some patients, skin checks sit alongside broader preventative care, including GP health assessments and other age-appropriate screening conversations.

Checking Your Own Skin Between Appointments

Your GP can look at your skin a few times a year at most. You see it every day. That means you’re often the first person who’ll notice when something changes — and that early noticing matters.

Get to know your own moles, freckles and marks. Use a mirror for hard-to-see areas, or ask someone you trust to check your back, shoulders or scalp. If you spot something new, something that’s changing, or anything that just looks different from your usual marks, book a GP appointment rather than waiting to see what happens.

Taking photos of spots you’re keeping an eye on can also be helpful — especially if you’re unsure whether something is actually changing. Photos don’t replace medical review, but they can give you something concrete to show your GP.

A Note for Men

Men can be less likely to raise skin concerns early — particularly when a spot is on the back, scalp or shoulders, somewhere easy to ignore or simply not notice. But outdoor work, sport, fishing, surfing, years of gardening and incidental sun exposure all accumulate over time.

If a partner or family member has mentioned that a mole looks different, it’s worth taking that seriously. As our article on what happens after blood test results touches on, preventative care is really about patterns, follow-up and context — not alarm. A skin check is a practical way to turn vague concern into a clear, informed plan.

When to Book Sooner Rather Than Later

Don’t hold off until your next routine check if you’ve noticed something that’s bothering you. Book a GP appointment sooner if a spot:

• Is new and looks unusual compared to your other marks.
• Has changed in size, shape or colour.
• Looks different from your other spots — the so-called “ugly duckling” sign.
• Bleeds, crusts or won’t heal.
• Itches, tingles or becomes tender.
• Develops a lump or raised area.
• Has an irregular border or more than one colour.

Even if the spot turns out to be completely harmless — and many do — it’s always better to have it looked at than to dismiss a change that turns out to matter.

A Skin Check Is a Conversation, Not Just an Examination

The best skin checks feel like a two-way exchange. By the time you leave, you should know which spots were looked at, whether anything needs monitoring or follow-up, how often you should come back, and what signs should prompt an earlier appointment.

For patients in Sutherland and across the Sutherland Shire, Shire Family Medical offers GP skin checks with dermatoscopy, and onward treatment or referral pathways where clinically appropriate.

👉 Learn more about skin cancer checks at Shire Family Medical