Dermatologist... Full body skin exam

I was diagnosed with a skin cancer on my upper lip (Basil Cell Carcinoma) five years ago. It was removed surgically. According to the dermatologist that diagnosed it, the surgeon who removed it, and a variety of relatively trustworthy internet sources, melanoma cancers account for 1% or less of all skin cancers - the rest are carcinoma's.

To imply that all skin cancers are melanoma is misleading. Not mentioning carcinoma is the misleading part.

@RunnerUp,

Skin cancer, melanoma can be EXTREMELY sneaky. Dermatologists know this. They will get caught by surprise by something they thought was nothing every so often. It’s very proactive and responsible to know your own body well, good for you. When it comes to skin exams, take it all off and let them be completely thorough, especially if you have increased risk factors for melanoma. It could save your life!

Health is very important, more than anything, I know 😉

But what I know is that I never fully undress unless specifically asked to.

The doctor was very clear from the beginnning : “take everything off, except your underwear”. I guess she didn't want to have me naked the whole time of the examination.

It's only when the intimate parts came to attention that she asked me to take down my boxer. Not even fully removed, at first at mid-thigh, and then under knees to widespread legs a little bit more.

I know some people have a fantasy to undress in front of female medical doctor and I have no doubt some don't hesitate to “force” this nakedness to them. And I don't wanna be one of them. So unless I'm asked to remove it, I keep my underwear 😉

Some factoids from the American Academy of Dermatologists:

• The latest figures suggest that more than 15,000 people die of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin in the U.S. each year — more than twice as many as from melanoma.
• Melanoma accounts for only about 1% of skin cancers but causes a large majority of skin cancer deaths.
• The vast majority of skin cancer deaths are from melanoma.
• About half of melanomas are self-detected.

The second bullet seems a bit contradictory, but I assume that those who are diagnosed with melanoma have a lower survival rate than the more common carcinomas.

Often I have shown my doctor a new mole or skin blemish that I've observed. Interesting fact about self-examination and detection.

Often I have shown my doctor a new mole or skin blemish that I've observed. Interesting fact about self-examination and detection.

This is key - many dermatologists will not check genitalia or under the underwater due to concerns about patient modesty. They rely upon the patient to do self-checks and raise concerns during the appointment. Just look at how many posts in this thread where the dermatologist asks “any concerns down there?” or words to that effect - and never have the patient “drop their drawers.”

Of course, it's a difficult area to do a self-check, even with a mirror!

Always, always, always mention any concerns if you see something. Don't make stuff up, but ask if you see something new or have doubts. Our healthcare system is one of “participatory care” where self-care is a huge part of it.

I had my first skin exam of my life at the dermatologis’s office. The medical assistant took me back to an exam room and asked all the usual questions and took my blood pressure too. Then she asked me why I was there. I listed the things I wanted checked in particular. She then ask if I wanted a whole body skin exam. I told her yes that once every half century was a good idea. She told me to strip down to my boxers and that the doctor would be in shortly.

It turned out the doc was a pre blond young woman Nurse Practitioner.

She looked at almost everything. At the end she asked me if I noticed any problems down there. I said I didn’t so she quickly said ok then see you next year. It was over in about 10 minutes. Her assistant was there and stayed in the room typing while I got dressed.

The doc didn’t see any cancer or precancer spots.

Are most skin exams done that quickly?

She did remove a couple of pilar cysts. a seborrheic mole, and a thing that looked like a wart on my heel. But that was after the skin exam.

A full exam takes between 10 and 15mn I guess, from my experience. It always seems longer when you're on the exam table, but it's not. And in case intimate parts are checked, there're a couple minutes more, let's say 5.

So 10mn for the exam alone, it's quick, but it's ok to me.

Unless mayyyyyyyyybe the very 1st skin exam where I may have been lying on an exam table in an open gown, all of my skin exams have involved being seated (hair & sometimes arms &/or chest, while the rest of the time, i am mostly standing on a cloth.

In just a jockstrap of course.

I'm going in for my first ever skin check by a dermatologist in 2 weeks. She's an RNP working at a dermatology group. She is a family specialist along with gerontology and dermatology. That seems to be a good fit for me as I must be a “geront” at 82 years of age. According to one of the links I found on the internet she lives(ed) one house from me two years ago. I've been in my house 54 years now and every one around me just seems to come for a short while then move on. When I signed up using ZocDoc I told them my reason for making the appointment was I felt I should have a skin check once every 82 years. The family doc of about 30 years who closed his practice when Medicare or Obamacare changed their methods at the end of 2013, used to have me naked for the half hour duration of the annual physical so maybe that counted as a skin check. Never naked with the replacement doc since except for last year when I mentioned that fact and she did have me naked for the 5 minute stething routine.

I guess I'm going to see what an appointment with a dermatologist is like.

When I signed up using ZocDoc I told them my reason for making the appointment was I felt I should have a skin check once every 82 years.

I guess I'm going to see what an appointment with a dermatologist is like.

@roscoe Wow, 82, and never had a skin exam ! Make sure they get a look at EVERYthing !

I’ve never had one that took very long and I’m on the ‘every 3 month plan’ due to family history and some issues myself.

I would love going every 3 months. I enjoyed going twice a year, but between the pandemic and not having carcionoma anymore, I cut it back to once a year where I maybe get blasted a few times with liquid nitrogen.

@JTMac : @roscoe Wow, 82, and never had a skin exam ! Make sure they get a look at EVERYthing !

I certainly hope she does. There are a lot of places on my body I have never seen so I intend to do my best to get everything looked at short of looking like a pervert. I did have some sore spots under the foreskin a while ago so I plan on mentioning those. I think they were caused my the nurse who took a “clean sample” of my urine when I was in the hospital but I won't mention that. When I went in to see my regular doctor for the follow up visit after the hospital stay they had me fill out a form that asked if there was anything I wanted to have checked. I mentioned the thing under the skin of my abdomen that felt like a marble and the sores on the shaft of my penis under the foreskin. She neither mentioned nor looked at them!😡 I'm hoping for a better outcome from the dermatologist.😘

There are a lot of places on my body I have never seen so I intend to do my best to get everything looked at short of looking like a pervert.

That's kind of my sentiment. I don't really take a mirror to looking at my crotch area, and what if there's something there. Just because it doesn't really get exposed to the sun, you never know where things can pop up. Although I would guess I'd have to feel a lump or something for something to not be right.

Has a Dermatologist visit today and thought some of u might enjoy a report.

I went 2 or 3 times last year with a issue on my underarms and a bump on my nose. All is better and seeing the female dr that I would say is in her early 30's. After checking in and a reasonable 10 minute wait I'm led back to a room. The nurse ask the purpose of my visit lol. I explain it's a follow up to a couple issues and I assume a skin check since I probably won't need to come back until next year. She pulls out a gown and plops it on the exam table and instructs me to “gown up”. The first time last year the nurse told me to take everything off and put on the gown. Then she added u can leave ur underwear on. So i did. The first skin check was just a quick once over. The other 2 visits I just took my shirt off since I didn't need the full body check. So back to today, since no mention of keeping underwear on I assume remove all clothing and start disrobing. I get down to my briefs and decide to put gown on before I slip off the undergarment. As soon as I get gown on I hear a quick knock and the dr is coming in lol. Ok guess underwear stays on lol. She is alone too. All the times before a nurse has come in with her. So she asks some questions about my issues and looks them over and is pleased they are better. She then tells me to stand up and lets do the skin check. I remove the gown and she starts the process. I tell her I have a mole or something under my briefs that she should look at. It's on my upper right thigh and I lower my briefs far enough to get a look. She starts frowning after looking at it and asks if I would let her do a biopsy. I agree and she starts getting stuff out. If i don't hold my briefs down they slip back up over it. She is putting her gloves on after she pulls them down just enough to see and then they sliding back up again she takes both hands and says lets just get rid of these. So off they come and I'm standing there completely nude and it's just me and the Dr. She does the biopsy and tells me results will probably be tomorrow and that I can get dressed

I've posted to this topic several times but it has been quite a while since my last post, so I thought I'd share my latest experience with those that are intersted.

I'm 62 and I've been seeing my current female dermatoigist for several years. She very good, very professional and very attractive. I'd say she's in her late 30s. I had a FBSE last November. That experience was simialr to my other exams with her, some of which I have posted here. She always has an assistant, usually a young female, but 2 of the last 3 times I've seen her she has had a male assistant, a different one each time.

Today the male assistant took me to the exam room and we chatted briefly about my concerns. Since about Janauary I have had worsening symptoms on my arms, ankles, calves and in my butt crack and my lower lip. Since I had a FBSE in November I wasn't due for another one until next November, so I was I didn't know what to expect concerning stripping for the doctor this time. For a FBSE I strip completely and don't use a gown or any covering. Initially the assistant said to leave everything on and the doctor would determine what needed to come off. Like roll up my sleaves for my arm exam and maybe drop my pants for my calves and ankles exam. Then he said, “No”, strip like you were having a FBSE but leave your underwear on. He fetched me a gown but I said I didn't need one, so he put it back. He said he'd talk to the doctor and would return with her shortly.

I didn't tell him that I was commando but I stripped totally and sat on the end of the exam table completely naked. Minutes later and the doctor returned. I stood up and great the doctor and we chatted a bit. The assistant didn't say anything but he seemed surprised that I was totally naked. He stood behind the doctor but had a good view of my genitals and he really couldn't take his eyes off them.

The doctor examine each of my areas of concern and we chatted about any changes in my life concerning medications or diet or environment that may have caused the skin problems I was having. She had me stand and rotate so she had a quick complete view of my whole body. She had me face the table and lean forward so that she could examine the iritations near my butt crack. She prescrible a steroid treatment for most of my problems but was concerned with the problem I was having with my lips. She found a likely precancerous bump on my upper lip and froze it. On my lower lip she prescribed an antibiotic. She said all should be well in a couple of weeks with the medication and to call if I had any problems. She then left and I was left with the male assistant. He completed the paperwork and we chatted. I was still totally naked as I stood next to him and we conversed. Once completed, he asked if I had any questions. I didn't. He got one final look of me naked and then left.

It was quite an ertoic experience for me being totally naked with a hot female doctor and a male assistant who seemed to really enjoy seeing me naked.

Can't wait for my next FBSE in November.

I had a full body skin check that started off with my boxers on. When the doctor was done with everything that was exposed she asked if I wanted to take my underwear off to have everything examined. I slipp them down as she sat on the stool right in front of me. I swear her eyes went wide for a moment when she saw my cock but then she recov and was all professional again

Once a year, everything off and she goes over EVERY nook and cranny - head to toe. I appreciate her being thorough.

Oh my God! I need this exam, realy enjoy the opening post, and I want this experience!

A dermatologist checks even in your hair on down! I had a place on my leg! I thought I had bumped into something! I would scratch the scab off and it would get red and festered up and another scab! It went on over a year and I decided I needed to go to a dermatologist! He sent me to a plastic surgeon! He cut it out in 5 minutes! In a few days the dermatologist office called and ask if the surgeon told me to follow up with the dermatologist! I told her no but it was fine! She said he wants to see you to make sure you don’t have any more places! I told her I didn’t think so! She kept on so I went! I’m a nurse but never had worked with a dermatologist! I get in the room and the nurse told me he wants to do a full body exam! I thought arms legs back but she told me here’s a gown take everything off and we will be back shortly! He came in and told me to get on my stomach! Ok he started at the back of my hair parting it! Then he told me to bend my head down so he could check my neck and ears! Then he starts at my back and I have never even had a mole on my back! She did put a towel across my butt! He told me I’m going to take the towel off so I can check your back end! I told him I had never noticed anything on my butt and he said it’s ok but I’m going to spread your cheeks a little and see if it’s anything there! Nothing was there and he went on down the back of my legs! He said everything looks fine on this side! I thought it was over! Oh no he said now if you will flip to your back I can check! He had a light going over my face and neck! He pulled the gown down and started with my breast and arms stomach! The nurse said you will need to get in the stirrups and I ask why! She said he wanted to check down there! There I was laying in the stirrups and he said so many women have vulva cancer he always felt down there for bumps or anything unusual! He checked it out good! He even checked between my toes! A friend of mine said she went to a different dermatologist and got the same exam! Have any of you had a experience with a dermatologist?

I had a short assignment at one of the government laboratories and everyone, (from the director to the janitor)had to have a physical exam every year. Because of the nuclear materials on site, the exam was included attention to our reproductive organs. At this lab female PAs conducted the exam and their instructions were to explain and demonstrate self-examination to the mostly men working there. Interesting session having a 30-40yo female spending ten minutes first touching and squeezing your junk and then me showing her that I could do it right. Now when I have my annual derm check with a female doctor nothing is consider intrusive.

@WannaJ My wife has the same exam every year as you and I do. For men it is a visual examination of the genitals and also use of the magnifying glass.

Mason you should just come right out tell her about your family history and you appreciate a more thorough exam.

My doctor asked if I wanted a gown to start off with but did say the gown would only be temporary since she said she would need to view my complete body in the nude. I said I was fine with no gown. My exam started with me lying in the exam table face up, she stated at my hair, face, chest, torso area, then down to my pelvic, genitals etc.. i then turned over and she did the same, head to toe.

I finally got my skin check and it was good and bad. She found a couple places on my face she wanted to freeze and one she cut out to send for further testing. I guess that used up her allotted time and she never got to do any inspection below the belt except for looking at the spot inside my foreskin that I mentioned on the entrance form.

I was led into the room by her nurse who told me to strip to my underpants. She asked if I wanted a gown as those would be coming off eventually, I declined. It seemed a bit ridiculous to put on a gown only to remove it in a few minutes. She left and I did as instructed. I sat there for less than a minute when the “doctor” actually an RNP, came in. She had me sit on the table and she started at the top of my head using a magnifier brightly lit by LEDs. She sent the nurse out to get the freeze stuff which was in a pressurized can that looked like an oil can. She had a younger girl with her when she returned who just seemed to be watching. I didn't mind her being there but it would have been nice to know her purpose.

She asked me to show her the sore spot inside my foreskin and told me to take whatever position was most comfortable for me to do that. I told her there may not be anything to see as it happened a couple months ago in the hospital and I described what I thought caused it. As I positioned myself where she could see it as I retracted the foreskin I noticed the “watcher” step closer to see it too. She said it was OK now and nothing to worry about. That ended the exam and she said she would call right away if the lab found a problem with the sample she cut out, otherwise she would call in about a week and she did.

They gave me an appointment for next year which I hope will be more thorough. There are certainly places down in manland that I've never seen.

I see a dermatologist once a year. Next time I want to ask for a full body skin check including genitalia. How should I go about doing that?

@gthumith Should be the other way round. The dermatologist should ask you wheter there's something to check “down there" (and then you answer “I guess ^^”)

Should (s)he not ask you, I guess you may mention you've never been checked totally and maybe it would be best for your health ?

When I was in high school i had eczema on my forearms. Apparently I had it really bad when I was an infant and it had come back now during puberty.

I really was not expecting a full body exam just for a rash on my forearms but after looking at my arms the dermatologist told my dad - who was sitting there in the room - that he wanted to do a full body exam and my father gave permission. Next thing I know the doctor tells me to strip nude and he starts going over every inch of my body with a fine tooth comb. And yes the exam included a thorough examination of my genitalia and he even ended by giving me a testicle and hernia exam like my regular doctor did during my physicals.

This embarrassing examination ended with a cortisone shot into my butt.

I went twice in my life. Once as a teenager when my mom wanted to get a mile checked. Once as an adult in 2019. I got a gown and she let me keep my underwear on.

My husband receives a complete skin exam every six months. He has had 14, yes fourteen surgeries to remove skin cancers. This includes the deadly Malignant Melanoma. His last surgery was three weeks ago. He had a Basal Cell under his left eye. I am very angry because the sutures were removed after 7-Seven days. He had never had sutures removed less that 12-Twelve days in the past. This surgery was 1 ½ inches long and the skin that was removed was quite wide and long. Four days after the removal of the sutures his skin breaks open ¾ inches long and ½ inches wide. In all of his surgeries, this had never happened! Bill told them 7 days was way too soon for removing the sutures! My husband, a retired Surgeon himself, knew a bit about what he said! We will see the MD's today about what can be done. Bill says, “Not Much” to attempt to suture again could cause more problems.

He's using a medication to keep the hole clean but it's going to look butt ugly under his eye. I wish those Doctors would have listened to my husband.

In 1968 my husband Bill volunteered to join the Army and requested to go to Vietnam. He was with the 1st Cavalry. He told me stories about Big Air Planes dumping this stuff called “DIOXIN” all around Nuibara and Nuibadin mountains. He did not know that DIOXIN was Agent Orange. He recalled being dusted by DIOXIN many, many times on his bare skin. He was not the only one! Many of the Soldiers he was with are now gone. None of them knew that DIOXIN was deadly and would stay in a human body for life! That's why My Bill has a skin exam every six months. He did have Malignant Melenoma once. That once almost took his like!

Should any of our Zity Members like to go swimming or anything on a beach or anywhere to show your bare skin please remember this. The SUN will kill you! Please be safe and find a good Dermatologist! Once a year for sure! Should you be an outside person? See the MD sooner!

GyneDoll, Gwen

For more information on that stuff you can google Times Beach Disaster.

https://www.epa.gov/mo/town-flood-and-superfund-looking-back-times-beach-disaster-nearly-40-years-later

Nasty stuff.