Skin cancer screening

Technical term: skin cancer screening

Type of anesthesia: none

Duration of procedure (treatment time): approx. 15 minutes

Hospital stay: outpatient

Fit for socializing: immediately

Fit for work: immediately

Rest period: none

Skin cancer is often caused by excessive UV radiation, for example through sunbathing or solarium visits. But not only the sun plays a role, genetic predispositions can also significantly increase the risk of developing skin cancer. People with many pigmented moles (moles) have an increased risk of developing skin cancer. Particular caution should be exercised in people who already have melanoma or other types of skin cancer, or who have a family history of skin cancer. Severe sunburns in childhood or adolescence can also significantly increase the risk. In these cases, regular skin cancer screening is particularly important.

There are different forms of skin cancer, which manifest themselves through different characteristics:

Basal cell carcinoma (white skin cancer):

The most common form of skin cancer, which often appears as a shiny nodule on the skin. Although basal cell carcinoma rarely metastasizes, it can penetrate deeper layers of the skin without treatment and damage the surrounding tissue.

Squamous cell carcinoma (white skin cancer):

This skin cancer often shows up as scaly, rough patches or wounds that do not heal. Squamous cell carcinoma can spread faster than basal cell carcinoma and should be treated early.

Malignant melanoma (black skin cancer):

The most aggressive form of skin cancer, which originates from the pigment-forming cells of the skin. Melanoma can grow quickly and spread to other organs at an early stage. A timely diagnosis is life-saving here, as the chances of recovery are significantly improved if melanoma is detected early.

Skin cancer screening with a very bright lamp (without incident light microscope) is usually covered by all statutory health insurers from the age of 35. Screening is also advisable for younger people, but this is not covered by all health insurances. Some skin cancer screening examinations, such as with the reflected-light microscope, go beyond the statutory benefits catalog, but are still covered by many health insurance companies. You should discuss this with your health insurance company in advance. If the services are not covered, we will be happy to advise you on the scope and necessary nature of the examinations as well as the costs incurred.

Early detection of skin cancer is extremely important, as most forms of skin cancer are easily treatable if detected early. Many forms of skin cancer develop slowly and do not show any noticeable symptoms at first. In the early stages, malignant changes can often be removed without major complications using simple and minimally invasive methods. If, on the other hand, skin cancer is detected late, the risk of the disease spreading and requiring more complex treatment increases. Regular checks of the skin make it possible to detect even the smallest changes and to take appropriate measures immediately. This can significantly improve the chances of recovery.

Even if previous findings were inconspicuous, screening should be carried out approximately every two years at a young age. In principle, however, your personal risk profile determines how often skin cancer screening should be carried out. This means that the examination intervals depend on age, skin type and, in particular, the type and number of moles.

At our Zurich clinic, we rely on state-of-the-art technologies and comprehensive diagnostic procedures to detect skin cancer at an early stage. Skin cancer screening includes various methods that are individually tailored to you:

Clinical examination

Our experienced dermatologists begin the check-up with a thorough visual assessment of the skin. The entire surface of the skin is examined for conspicuous skin changes, moles or lesions. Particular attention is paid to areas of skin that are frequently exposed to the sun, as skin cancer can develop more frequently there. This clinical examination is the first step in detecting signs of skin cancer and, if necessary, initiating further diagnostic steps.

Dermatoscopic examination

An important tool in skin cancer prevention is the dermatoscope (reflected light microscope). With this special enlarger, we can analyze skin changes and pigmented moles down to the smallest detail. This allows us to recognize the skin structure below the surface and distinguish suspicious from harmless moles as well as detect malignant changes at an early stage. The dermatoscopic examination allows to identify microscopic signs which are not visible to the eye.

Digital dermatoscopic follow-up (mole monitoring)

Digital follow-up is a valuable tool for patients with many moles or an increased risk of skin cancer. Every skin change is digitally recorded and stored. At follow-up appointments, we can compare the pictures with each other. This enables particularly precise monitoring of high-risk marks and timely intervention in the event of abnormalities. The digital dermatoscopic follow-up gives you additional security, as changes are continuously documented and monitored.

Total Body Imaging with the Canfield VECTRA 3D Full Body Skin Cancer Scanner

With this state-of-the-art 3D imaging system, your entire skin surface is captured in a single image. The VECTRA 3D scanner creates a detailed 3D body map of your skin, on which even the smallest pigmentations and skin changes are visible in the highest resolution. The built-in artificial intelligence analyzes the images and compares them with previous images to automatically detect changes in the skin’s appearance. This technology enables seamless monitoring and helps to detect even the smallest abnormalities at an early stage.

Have you noticed a noticeable skin change or do you just want to be on the safe side? Make an appointment with us today and benefit from our many years of experience and state-of-the-art technology.