“How Full is a Full Body Skin Exam?”

This is a presentation from Michigan State University regarding survey answers from physicians about their practices and methods when conducting total body skin exams:

https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.aocd.org/resource/resmgr/2015SpringMeeting/ChenSpr15.pdf

The conclusion: “As experts in skin diagnosis and management, when doing a full body skin examination, patients should be completely undressed and all skin surfaces including the orbit, oral mucosa, and genitals should be inspected.”

From the survey, it was derived that patients that are instructed to undress completely for the duration of the exam were more likely to have the areas hidden by undergarments viewed by the examiner with the potential reasons for this being “anticipation, eliminating physical barriers, eliminating mental barrier.”

Has stripping completely, including underwear, from the start been other people’s experience? What are some perspectives from patients about this presentations encouragement to examiners to instruct their patients to take everything off?

I am a man and have a woman dermatologist. We're both over 60. When the assistant brings me to the room she tells me to get undressed and can leave me underwear on and sets out a white drape. After she's gone I get completely naked and sit on the chair with the drape unfolded just enough to cover my mid section. The Dr. comes in and begins her checks. She always keeps my genitals cover until the very end and moves the drape slightly out of the way and moves my penis from one side to the other to look at both sides. She did one time point out a small red spot on the shaft but said it was nothing. Honestly I wish she would look more closely at the of the folds in my scrotum. She looks but only for a second. After that I have always told her at this point that I need her to check my butt because I have no partner to look at me from the back. So I warned her and the assistant that having sat in the chair the whole time, that I was going to stand up and let her check back there. I will usually just stand up and hold the drape down a little while I've turn my back side to them. One time she walked around the front for another look but didn't touch anything. I have been seeing her for over 12 years and we have become very friendly. She is just that way.... and I like it. She knows that at this time she can look any way she wants to and I will try to encourage it. Unfortunately, as I type this, she told me that she was retiring. I'm going to miss her because having a good relationship with all of your doctors is a good thing. And after a few visits, nothing really has to be hidden.

It depends on my provider. Some have me get completely naked under the gown and others just have me in underwear. When it comes time, she’ll have me remove/lower them so she can check the genital area.

Personally, I don’t mind either way but prefer getting fully undressed since that typically means the provider will be very thorough including looking at the anus, underneath the scrotum, etc…

Although providers do need to take into consideration the modesty of patient so that’s why a lot of them don’t have the patient get naked. But dermatology providers should be checking the buttocks and genitals during a full skin exam or at the very least asking the patient if they want the area examined.

Tthank you for posting @B_Bailey. I had my biannual dermatology total body skin exam in March and here is a recap.

I was escorted to the exam room, handed the gown and told to strip to underpants. Dr G will be in shortly. I complied and waited in the exam chair till Dr G came in and we exchanged cheerful hellos. I removed the gown and placed it over the back of the chair.

Dr G said, let's start with your back today, pleasestand up. (She usually starts with my arms) So I stood, removed my boxers, and placed them on the exam chair. She examined my head, ears, back, buttocks and legs. Then she said let me get some gloves on so I can check the genitals. While sitting on a stool she moved my penis and scrotum around for a through inspection. Then she asked me to sit in the exam chair. (In the past she has asked me to put my boxers back on) So I sat down, still nude, while she sat on her stool and checked my feet and the front of my legs. Then Dr G stood, grabbed my gown from the back of the exam chair and laid it across my lap, all in one continuous motion. Finishing the exam with my chest, abdomen and face.

Upon completion, she said there was a precancerous spot that needed freezing and proceeded to take care of it. Then she sat down and asked me if I had any other concerns or questions. Ok. See you in 6 months. She is a great dermatologist

I am very pale so I should probably get a check from a dermatologist soon. No skin cancer in my family that I know of, and I haven't spent a lot of time in the sun. But I know I'm getting older so...

3 exams. I have this chronic rash on lower arms, lower legs back and other spots on the torso. Upper thigh next to scrotum. Years. tried steroid creams etc. I pick a woman dermatologist (only women drs) also athlete's foot and a few spots on scalp, torso After a history she has me get naked, including sox (athletes' foot) and put on a paper gown. Finds seborrheic keratoses on scalp, and two on torso. Checks arms, belly. Gown is at waist level. Next rash on thigh next to scrotum. Gown is gone. Looks at legs and scratches, athletes' foot. Gives me gown back. She freezes the keratoses, prescribes loratadine every day and tolfanate for feet. in 3 wks no more rash I've had for years. nice feet. great doc.

Twice in hospital; same floor. Neurologic & Orthopedic surgery. After knee replacement surgery I have to stay overnight, as the surgery was late and I didn't wake up from anesthesia. Really groggy I try to pee in the urinal; nurse tries to help but I pee in bed anyway. They change sheets and gown. Aide cleans me with giant wet paper towels, knee to belly button. I'm naked except for bandages on knee and the warm socks. Surprise. Nurse says 'protocols is a skin exam is done by 2 RN's.' I ask what's it for? 'Never know whether patients have skin lesions like bed sores or cuts.' They start at the bottom pulling off my socks, look all over feet especially heels. lift non-operated leg. Peers at, but doesn't touch genitals, torso. roll me over to look at back. I tell them I think I have a pimple on mid-back. RN confirms. Finish by looking at the arms neck face.

Second one was a neck decompression surgery via anterior neck. Pre-op nursing call they warn me about the skin exam. After this surgery I'm awake after going up to my room after recovery room. Nurses get me settled, and RN yells down the hall for other nurse for his skin exam. Similar to first one above but they pulled gown up for belly exam, then pulled it down off shoulders, for chest, so I was never completely naked.

I love CFNM

Brat

My body has to have everything on it, moles, freckles, red spots, brown spots, old age spots, skin tags, skin barnacles , wart or 2 at one time and other things that seem to pop up overnight. About 20 years ago, a very nasty looking black spot popped up to which I made an appointment with a female dermatologist, went in had it looked at, took a picture of it, removed it, came back OK.

She told me in my case that she would recommend that I come in for a full body scan, a couple weeks later there I was. Handed me the little gown, strip down to my panties, OK. She came is with a female assistant, began checking me, peek at this, peek at that. I told her I had stuff everywhere and I mean everywhere, would she mind if I just stripped off. No problem, so I did.

I now get a body scan every year, yes fully nude, and over the years I have had quite a few places removed, so far nothing has come back nasty. But as I get older, more and more things seem to appear. Got a checkup next month, just hope my lucks holds out.

@Tillie Stay outta the sun or use sun screen.

@GraceT

I haven't spent a lot of time in the sun. But I know I'm getting older so...

I had a basal cell carcinoma, which if you have to have a cancer, that's the type to have; it's never metastatic. When it was discovered (I noticed it), I told the dr. I hadn't been sunburned or even tanned in years. He told me that these can develop from exposure decades earlier.

Good luck to you.

They either have me take everything off and put on a gown, or take off everything but my underwear and put on a gown. They move the gown away from the parts they're checking, then put it back. I have to say, when I'm told to remove my underwear, the doctors (there have been several) always do a more thorough check of my genitals and natal cleft, than when they're left on.

I was quite surprised to find my dr. didn't discover I had bilateral athlete's foot, despite that being an important area, as I'm a diabetic. I knew I had it, but wanted to see if she found it; she did not. That's quite concerning.

Originally, with me just wearing boxers, my dermatologist checked all exposed skin carefully, peeked down the back of my shorts, and asked if there was anything in my private area he should look at. Since he found an early-stage melanoma on my back, every square inch of my skin gets examined every three months. After two years, I think, of every three months, it will return to every six months. I am sure the “all over” routine will continue.

My (female) dermatologist examines every skin surface from head-to-toe including genitals, but I am fully clothed and only expose skin as she actually examines it.

I was a young fool when I was younger and severely overcooked my skin in the sun. I paid for it later in life.

I have been diagnosed with melanoma which was successfully treated and multiple basal cell carcinoma’s , had what looked like a rash on my forehead that would not stop bleeding and the doctor gave me a chemotherapy type of skin care cream to put on it and about six months later it cleared up and went away. I have been frozen with liquid nitrogen so many times I lost count of all the times it happened.

Full body exams from a dermatologist are a routine for me. Basically the more severe the skin cancer the more thoroughly they check every where.

I have had both male and female dermatologists and physicians assistant’s checking my body. I remember one female physician assistant checking me for a sudden and severe rash that appeared between my right ball and leg, as she was touching the area and inspecting the rash my penis began to get hard, I could not stop it. She and her female assistant with her seen what was happening and just smiled. I believe they were impressed with the size, my limp dick is larger than the average erect penis and when they seen it was only about at half staff. She gave me a prescription for the rash and a few weeks later I went back in for a follow up examination and it was another very pleasant experience and the rash was gone.

Yes, it is mostly a full scan, but only are asked about any problems in my groin. So I am in the room with only my panties on and she just pulls my panties a bit in the backside. Yes, I am a male who wears panties full time, I gave up on trying to hide it from doctors and others.

A female doc once told me she’d check everywhere..”even where the sun don’t shine”. I was in my underwear, she only lifted the back of my underwear and took a quick glance at my butt. Another time a male doc had me hold the gown up and took a glance at my genitals. Neither was very extensive.