Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Each year, more than 6 million adults are treated for skin cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dr. Collin Costello, a Mayo Clinic dermatologist, said anyone can get skin cancer, but some people are at higher risk. So how often should you be screened?
A skin check by a dermatologist usually takes only a few minutes, but that short time spent in the doctor’s office could add years to your life if skin cancer is detected early.
“I think one of the big things with screening is, because there aren’t really rigorously set national guidelines, that we really look to risk factors to help guide who needs to be screened and how frequently,” Costello said.