Preparing for a Skin Exam or First Dermatology Visit

What to bring to a dermatology visit, what the USPSTF says about skin cancer screening, and skin cancer facts from the CDC and the National Cancer Institute.

A first visit to a dermatologist can be for many reasons: a full-body skin check, a spot that has changed, acne, a rash, hair loss or a cosmetic question. A little preparation helps you get more out of a short appointment. This guide covers what to bring, what official bodies say about skin cancer screening and a few skin cancer facts from federal health agencies. It is general information, not medical advice. If you have a medical emergency, call 911.

Before you book

• Check coverage. Ask your plan whether the dermatologist is in network and whether you need a referral. Medicare Advantage plans may require one; Original Medicare usually does not. Our guide to medical vs cosmetic dermatology explains the details.
• Say why you are coming. Tell the office whether you want a full skin exam, a look at one spot, or a cosmetic consultation. Some offices book these differently.
• Check credentials. Our guide on checking a dermatologist's license and board certification shows how to look up a license and board certification yourself. Listings in this directory show self-reported specialty codes, not certification.

What to bring

• Your insurance or Medicare card and a photo ID.
• A list of all medicines, including creams, vitamins and supplements, and any allergies.
• Your history: past skin cancers or biopsies, sunburns, tanning, and any family history of skin cancer or melanoma.
• Notes about the problem: when it started, whether it has changed, what you have tried.
• Photos, if a rash or spot comes and goes or has changed over time.
• Names of products you use on your skin, or the products themselves.
• Your questions, written down.

For a full skin exam, ask the office whether to come without nail polish or makeup, since the clinician may want to look at nails and facial skin. You can ask to have a chaperone present, and you can ask that any area be examined or skipped.

What happens at a skin exam

NCI describes a skin exam in its summary on skin cancer as a check of the skin for bumps or spots that look abnormal in color, size, shape or texture. If a spot looks suspicious, the clinician may take a biopsy, removing all or part of it so a pathologist can look at it under a microscope. NCI describes several kinds, including shave, punch, incisional and excisional biopsies. Ask how and when you will get the result.

What the USPSTF says about skin cancer screening

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) makes recommendations about preventive services such as screening. In its April 18, 2023 recommendation, it concluded that current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of a visual skin exam by a clinician to screen for skin cancer in adolescents and adults without symptoms. The USPSTF calls this an "I statement," meaning the evidence was insufficient. It says clinicians should use their judgment about whether to screen.

Two points are easy to miss:

• The recommendation applies to people with no symptoms and no history of skin cancer or precancerous skin lesions. The USPSTF says it does not apply to a person who comes in with a suspicious skin lesion.
• The USPSTF lists possible harms of screening, including scarring from biopsies, worry and overdiagnosis.

NCI's patient summary on skin cancer screening says much the same: there is not enough evidence to know whether screening the population lowers deaths from skin cancer, and false-positive results can lead to more tests such as biopsies.

In a separate 2018 recommendation, the USPSTF recommends that clinicians counsel people ages 6 months to 24 years with fair skin, and parents of young children, about limiting ultraviolet (UV) exposure. It found insufficient evidence about counseling adults to do skin self-exams.

So whether a routine full-body check makes sense for you is a question to ask your doctor, especially if you have risk factors or a history of skin cancer.

Skin cancer facts from federal agencies

• Types. The CDC's skin cancer basics names the three most common types: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. It says melanoma causes more deaths than the other types because it often spreads.
• Cause. The CDC says too much exposure to UV rays from the sun or tanning beds causes most skin cancers.
• Risk factors. The CDC's risk factors page lists lighter natural skin color, skin that burns or freckles easily, blue or green eyes, blond or red hair, certain types and a large number of moles, a history of sunburns or tanning, a personal or family history of skin cancer, and older age. The CDC also notes that anyone can get skin cancer.
• Warning signs. NCI's fact sheet on moles describes the ABCDE signs of melanoma: asymmetry, irregular border, uneven color, a diameter usually larger than 6 millimeters, and evolving (change over weeks or months). NCI also lists signs of other skin cancers, such as a sore that does not heal.

The American Academy of Dermatology, the specialty's professional association, has a guide to checking your own skin. It suggests seeing a dermatologist about a spot that looks different from others or that changes, itches or bleeds.

Questions to ask at the visit

• Do any of my spots need a biopsy? Why or why not?
• Based on my history, how often do you suggest I come back?
• Which changes should prompt me to call before my next visit?
• If you take a biopsy, how will I get the result, and who will call me?
• Is anything you are suggesting today cosmetic, and will I pay for it myself?
• Can this be followed up by telehealth, or do I need to come in?

After the visit

Keep a copy of your visit summary and any biopsy report. If you see more than one clinician, ask that records be shared. You can compare up to three listings side by side on this site and start a new search from the home page. If you are later referred for skin cancer surgery, see Mohs surgery explained.

Updated 2026-10-16.

General information only, current as of the date above. The information on Dermatologist Index is not medical advice and does not replace a doctor, nurse, discharge planner or other qualified professional. Do not use it to make decisions about diagnosis or treatment. If you have a medical emergency, call 911. Rules and programs change; check the official sources linked in this guide.