Skin Cancer Screening
Full-body skin cancer screening in Chapin, SC, by a board-certified dermatologist. Detection saves lives in the South Carolina sun.
What a screening looks like
A full-body skin exam is a head-to-toe visual inspection of your skin, conducted by Dr. Hardy. We document any lesions of concern, photograph as appropriate, and discuss whether a biopsy is warranted on the same visit.
For patients with a history of skin cancer, atypical moles, or extensive sun exposure, screening is typically recommended every six to twelve months. For most patients, annual screening is appropriate.
What we look for
- Basal cell carcinoma (most common)
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Melanoma
- Actinic keratoses (precancerous)
- Atypical or changing moles
- Suspicious lesions of any morphology
If a lesion needs a biopsy, it happens in-house at our dermatopathology lab. The slide is read by the same physician who saw you in clinic. Faster path turnaround, one signature on the report.
When to come in sooner
Any new, growing, bleeding, or changing skin lesion is worth evaluating, regardless of when your last screening was. The ABCDE rule (Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Evolving) is a useful self-check but is not a substitute for clinical examination.