What is a full skin check?

A full skin check, or full skin examination (FSE), is a comprehensive clinical examination of the entire skin surface, performed to identify new, changing, or previously undiagnosed lesions.

It involves a systematic assessment of the skin from head to toe, including areas that may not be easily visible or routinely checked by patients.

During a full skin check, your dermatologist may:

• examine moles, pigmented lesions, and other skin changes;

• assess for features suggestive of skin cancer or pre-cancerous lesions;

• use tools such as dermoscopy to examine lesions in greater detail; and

• identify areas that may require monitoring, biopsy, or treatment.

Where clinically appropriate, additional methods such as clinical photography may also be used to assist with monitoring changes over time.

A full skin check is broader than a consultation focused on a particular lesion, condition, or area of concern.

Rather than examining only the issue for which you have been referred or booked, a full skin examination involves assessing the skin more generally and may identify multiple findings requiring separate clinical decisions.