By Dr. Anne Marie Tremaine
There are some important details to know before your skin cancer screening. First and foremost, I want you to feel at ease at your visit, but of course, the less you wear during the exam the better! My nurse will give you a gown and you can undress to your comfort level, but please understand that clothing/undergarments/socks do obscure the skin. It is best to come to your exam with a minimalist, au naturel approach.
Here are my tips to make your visit smooth and comprehensive:
. Wear easy to remove clothing and shoes
. Do not wear any makeup. Even light makeup camouflages the skin, which is the job it is intended to do. The same applies to eyeliner or lipstick. I really cannot see under makeup, and it can easily obscure a skin cancer.
. Avoid hair products as I will examine your scalp during the exam
. Skip the jewelry and watches
. Leave off the perfume, moisturizers, and sunscreen (yes, even sunscreen!). All these products get in the way of a thorough exam.
. Remove nail polish or artificial nails. I cannot assess for nail changes, nail fungus, or growths under the nail if there is anything covering the nail.
The bottom line is this: anything covering your skin blocks both my visual and tactile senses. I take your skin health very seriously and I aim to provide you with the most thorough exam possible. See you soon!
Anne Marie Tremaine, MD
Board Certified Dermatolgist
Harvard Cosmetic and Laser Medicine Fellowship
Dr. Tremaine is a board-certified dermatologist with fellowship training at Harvard Medical School in laser and cosmetic dermatology. She has contributed as a dermatology expert for online and print magazines including Family Fun, msn.com, menshealth.com, and ccn.com. In addition, she frequently lectures to professional societies on her diverse research. For more information about skin care, visit the Skin Wellness
Physicians website at:
www.skinwellnessflorida.com
Skin Wellness Physicians