Skin Care
If you think you or your partner could spot a suspicious mole in time, you must read on…
Two out of three Australians develop skin cancer. That means someone you know will be diagnosed with skin cancer this year.
It could be you.
The diagnosis could be good news — because skin cancers are easily treatable if caught early. However…
You won’t be the one who finds your skin cancer early.
Skin cancers start invisible and stay hard to spot until advanced
It’s good advice to watch for moles changing shape or colour, except…
1. Most Stage One skin cancers are invisible to the naked eye. And Stage One is when you want to catch your skin cancer.
2. Melanomas can develop anywhere, including hard-to-see places, like under a full head of hair.
Dermatoscope precision for 16x more accurate detection
Your GP is trained to use a dermatoscope. A doctor with a dermatoscope can find cancers you couldn’t see with your naked eye, even if you knew what to look for.
Dermatascopes make doctors 16x better at finding skin cancers. In fact, specially trained GPs using dermatoscopes are as accurate as dermatologists.
(This is important to you for reasons explained below.)
Waiting until skin cancer is visible to the naked eye could be the difference between a simple procedure and a life-altering diagnosis.
Specialist attention in a familiar setting
Most doctors at skin cancer clinics are GPs. They have the same type of advanced training as your Eltham Clinic GP. Our training includes:
Full skin cancer checks: Your GP will examine your whole body in a 15-minute appointment. They will look for signs invisible to the naked eye using a dermatoscope.
Biopsies: Your GP is trained to sample suspicious lesions for lab analysis.
Minor surgical procedures: Your GP is trained to remove most skin cancers. This will happen conveniently in the clinic during a special appointment.
Follow-up with a friendly face
By having your skin checked at Eltham Clinic, your check is:
- Part of your overall healthcare
- With a doctor who knows your complete medical history
And any follow-up treatment will be with a familiar doctor with your total wellness in mind.
Four potentially life-saving checks
Your GP is always thinking about your complete health. That means we use the 15-minute skin check as an opportunity to look for more than skin cancer.
Your GP will look for signs of heart problems, skin conditions and metabolic concerns. We might catch these before you’ve even felt them.
1. Heart health
During your full-body skin exam, your GP may observe:
- swelling
- blood flow changes
- unusual skin patterns
These subtle markers can be early warnings of health concerns you can avoid with quick treatment.
2. Other skin conditions
Your GP might also find skin conditions like:
- dermatitis
- fungal infections
- eczema
With treatment, you’ll feel better and be more comfortable.
3. Metabolic and systemic clues
Your skin can reveal early signs of metabolic conditions like:
- diabetes
- cholesterol issues
Finding signs early means we can act before things get serious.
You’re in specialist hands
Australia has 258,000 cases of skin cancer annually and only 648 dermatologists. That’s one dermatologist for every 40,000 Australians. This is why it’s important to you that specially trained GPs using dermatoscopes are as accurate as dermatologists. You don’t need to go on a long waiting list for a dermatologist when your GP is a specialist qualified to diagnose and manage most skin cancer cases.
What to expect from your Skin Cancer+ check
A skin cancer check at Eltham Clinic is a dedicated appointment. It will take just 15 minutes for a top-to-toe exam. We call it a Skin Cancer+ check because we will check for more than skin cancer.
1. Full-body exam for maximum accuracy
Did you know you could get melanoma under your nails or a full head of hair?
Melanomas can develop anywhere. And detecting melanomas early can make all the difference.
This is why your GP will ask you to remove your clothes to your underwear.
Studies show that melanoma detection rates improve by 600% when examining the entire body.
2. Dermatoscope precision
To find suspicious lesions and rule out harmless moles, your GP will use a dermatoscope. This hand-held specialist tool illuminates and magnifies your skin. It even shows us under your skin.
3. Personalised and complete healthcare
As GPs, we care about your total health. That’s why we’ll use your skin check to look for other potential health issues like:
- Heart health indicators: Swelling or colour changes that might mean poor circulation.
- Skin conditions: Irritating dermatitis, eczema, or fungal infections.
- Systemic clues: Early signs of diabetes or cholesterol issues that you should treat quickly.
When you set aside 15 minutes to check for skin cancer, you invest in
your total well-being.
4. Clear next steps
If your GP finds any concerns, you’ll agree an action plan together. Your plan
might include:
- Biopsy scheduling: A biopsy takes a sample of a suspicious mole. Your GP can perform the biopsy and send the sample straight to the lab. This means any necessary treatment will happen faster.
- Minor surgical procedures: Most skin cancers can be treated conveniently at Eltham Clinic. You don’t need a potentially long wait fora dermatologist.
- Monitoring: For less concerning spots, your GP will advise on regular follow-ups to track any changes.
5. Proportionate treatment
Everyone knows there’s plenty of impressive medical technology. And none of it is cheap. That’s why you should only have photography, mapping or tests that are clinically necessary.
Most people only need a regular 15-minute skin check. If we think you need more, we’ll talk to you about why we think so.
Book the 15-minute skincare routine that could save
your life
Stage One skin cancers have an almost 100% survival rate. However, Stage One cancers are mostly impossible to see with the naked eye. That’s why you need a specially trained GP using the proper tool.
Invest in your health and peace of mind. Book a dedicated 15-minute Skin Cancer+ check from a caring, familiar doctor committed to your total health.
References
• Janda, M., Youl, P. H., Lowe, J. B., Elwood, M., Ring, I. T., & Aitken, J. F. (2007).
Diagnosing skin cancer in primary care: How do mainstream general practitioners compare with primary care skin cancer clinic doctors? Medical Journal of Australia, 187(4), 215–220.
https://doi.org/10.5694/j.1326-5377.2007.tb01295.x
• Cancer Australia statistics
• Vestergaard ME, Macaskill P, Holt PE, Menzies SW. Dermoscopy compared with naked eye examination for the diagnosis of primary melanoma: a meta-analysis of studies performed in a clinical setting. Br J Dermatol. 2008 Sep;159(3):669-76. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2008.08713.x. Epub 2008 Jul 4. PMID: 18616769.
• Clark, S., Rosendahl, N., & Rosendahl, C. (2024). Melanoma overdiagnosis: What do we know and what do we do? Australian Journal of General Practice, 53(9).
• Johnson, Cathy. “Skin cancer clinic or GP: Who is best to check a skin spot?” ABC News, 19 Nov. 2015, https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2015-11-19/skin-cancer-clinicor-gp-who-is-best-to-check-a-skin-spot/6953662.
• Broom, Fiona, and Lucy MacDonald. “Local GPs bridging regional dermatologist shortages as skin cancer rates increase.” ABC News, 10 Feb. 2024, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-10/local-gp-skin-cancerchecks-dermatologist-shortage-regions/103432592.