Skin Cancer Screenings: What to Expect and How to Prepare

By Dr. Anne Marie Tremaine

What does it mean if you call and schedule a “skin check” with me?

That term can be interpreted in many ways. To a dermatologist, a skin check signifies a head-to-toe examination looking for skin cancers, precancerous growths, and atypical moles. Most of the time and effort of the visit is dedicated to this detailed examination. I also attempt to address other skin concerns (acne, rashes, sunspots, warts) during the visit, however, it can be difficult to fully address multiple concerns, in addition to, the full body skin cancer screening. Multiple skin concerns often require separate visits, so that each concern gets the attention it deserves. I can better prioritize our time together if I know your concerns and objectives at the beginning of the visit.

There are some important details to know before your skin cancer screening. First and foremost, I want you to feel at ease during 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. 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!

Dr. Anne Marie Tremaine is a board-certified dermatologist who enjoys taking care of all patients, from newborns to geriatric patients. Dr. Tremaine provides the full spectrum of dermatologic care from skin exams, skin cancer treatments, acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, birthmarks, cosmetic procedures, and skin care regimens. Her goal is to treat each individual patient with a customized treatment plan, rather than treating the disease state alone or approaching treatments with a cookie cutter approach.

Dr. Tremaine settled in Naples, Florida, in 2016 after 15 years of traveling around the country for her education and training. She grew up in Western New York, but relocated to Washington, D.C., for her undergraduate training in biology. She moved back to New York for medical school, then met her husband. Before starting her dermatology residency in Irvine, California, Dr. Tremaine spent several years as a clinical investigator on numerous clinical drug trials.

After her residency, Dr. Tremaine felt compelled to continue her education in cosmetic dermatology. She moved to Boston to complete a fellowship at Harvard Medical School in laser and cosmetic surgery. This intensive year of training has allowed her to become an expert in cosmetic and laser procedures, including BOTOX®, injectable fillers, spider vein treatments, photo-rejuvenation, and options to address scarring, brown spots, and broken blood vessels. After practicing dermatology in private practice in Southern California, she and her husband made the decision move back east to be closer to family.

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