How do you screen for skin cancer, is it important to screen for skin cancer?

Look in the mirror!: Look for enlarging lesions. There are many skin cancers, but if you any bumps which are enlarging or changing with time, have them checked out. Melanoma risk goes up if a lesion is (abcd): asymmetric, has irregular borders, has different colors, and diameter >6mm. If in doubt, get it checked out.

Dermatologist & yes: Those at risk should, it includes fair (light colored, freckled) skinned individuals. Sun damaged skin and those with nevi and moles. The main way is to look at all the skin and look at lesions and moles by a specialist, the dermatologist. The patient should also keep an eye on lesions, enlarging or growing, asymmetry, color changes, bleeding, larger than a pencil eraser should be checked.

Yes: Skin cancer screening involves your physician or dermatology going over your entire body looking for suspicious lesion. Areas of concern are biopsied. A large study from germany recently demonstrated that routine skin cancer screening reduced melanoma mortality rates. http://goo.gl/twll8.