What happens during a skin check?

During a skin check, a GP or dermatologist examines your skin from head to toe, looking for moles, spots, or lesions that may be suspicious. You undress to your underwear and the doctor uses a dermatoscope (a magnifying light) to look at spots more closely. The whole check usually takes 15–30 minutes. If anything looks suspicious, the doctor may photograph it, monitor it, or remove it for biopsy on the same day.

How often should I get a skin check in Australia?

There is no one-size-fits-all recommendation. The Cancer Council suggests people at higher risk — those with fair skin, a history of sunburn, many moles, a family history of melanoma, or previous skin cancers — should have regular skin checks as advised by their doctor. For average-risk Australians, self-checking your skin every 3 months and seeing a GP if you notice changes is a reasonable approach.

Do I need to take my clothes off for a skin check?

Yes, for a thorough full-body skin check you will be asked to undress to your underwear. The doctor needs to see all your skin, including your back, scalp, between toes, and under arms. You will be given a gown or sheet for privacy, and you can request a chaperone. If you are uncomfortable, you can ask to keep underwear on and the doctor will work around it — but areas not examined cannot be checked for skin cancer.

How much does a skin check cost in Australia?

At a bulk-billing GP, a skin check is free. At a private-billing GP, a skin check consultation typically costs $60–120, with a Medicare rebate of around $45.05 (item 23 or 36 depending on length). Dedicated skin cancer clinics may charge $100–200+ for a comprehensive check. Some clinics offer a free initial check. If a biopsy or excision is needed, there may be additional costs depending on whether it is bulk billed.

What Happens at a Skin Check? — What to Expect

During the skin check

A skin check is a visual examination of your entire skin surface by a GP or dermatologist. Here's what happens:

1. You undress to your underwear in a private room. You'll be given a gown or sheet. You can request a chaperone (a nurse in the room) at any time.

2. The doctor examines your skin head to toe. They'll look at your scalp, face, ears, neck, chest, back, arms, hands (including nails), legs, feet (including between toes), and anywhere else skin is visible. This is systematic — they don't skip areas.

3. They use a dermatoscope — a handheld magnifying device with a light that lets them see structures beneath the skin surface. It doesn't hurt. They'll press it gently against any spots they want to examine more closely.

4. They may photograph spots for monitoring. Some clinics use total body photography or digital mole mapping to track changes over time.

5. If something looks suspicious, they may biopsy it on the same day (a small sample is taken under local anaesthetic) or book you to return for excision. Not every suspicious spot is cancer — many are benign but need checking to be sure.

📋 Source: Cancer Council Australia skin cancer screening recommendations. RACGP Red Book.
Your doctor or healthcare provider knows your history and circumstances — always follow their personalised advice over general information.

6. The whole check takes 15–30 minutes.

How to prepare

Remove nail polish from fingers and toes. Melanoma can develop under nails (subungual melanoma). The doctor needs to see all your nails.

Go light on makeup. Skip heavy foundation so the doctor can see facial skin clearly. Skin cancers on the face are common.

Wear loose, easy-to-remove clothing. You'll need to undress and redress — a loose dress, t-shirt and shorts, or similar makes this quicker.

Note any spots that worry you. Before your appointment, check your own skin and write down anything new, changed, itchy, bleeding, or different. Point these out first.

Know your history. Tell the doctor about: any personal or family history of skin cancer or melanoma, history of sunburn (especially blistering burns), solarium use, and whether you work outdoors.

The ABCDE rule — what to watch for between checks

Use this to check your own skin every 3 months. See your GP if you notice any of these:

Asymmetry — one half of the spot doesn't match the other half.

Border — edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred.

Colour — uneven colour. Multiple shades of brown, black, red, white, or blue within one spot.

Diameter — larger than 6mm (roughly the size of a pencil eraser), though melanomas can be smaller.

Evolving — the spot is changing in size, shape, colour, or feel. Any new symptom like itching, bleeding, or crusting. This is the most important one.

Who should get a skin check?

Higher risk — talk to your GP about regular checks:

Fair skin that burns easily. History of sunburn, especially blistering burns in childhood. Many moles (50+) or unusual-looking moles. Personal or family history of melanoma or skin cancer. History of solarium/tanning bed use. Outdoor occupation (farming, construction, lifeguarding). Immunosuppression (organ transplant, immunosuppressive medications). Previous skin cancer.

Average risk:

Self-check your skin every 3 months using the ABCDE rule and the "ugly duckling" sign (any mole that looks noticeably different from the rest). See your GP if you notice anything new or changing.

All Australians:

Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. Roughly two in three Australians will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer by age 70. If you're unsure whether you need a check, ask your GP — they can assess your risk and advise on frequency.

What does it cost?

At a bulk-billing GP: Free (Medicare covers the full cost).

At a private-billing GP: $60–120 for the consultation, with a Medicare rebate of approximately $45.05 (standard consult) or $78.50 (long consult). Your out-of-pocket cost is the difference.

At a dedicated skin cancer clinic: $100–200+ for a comprehensive check. Some offer a free initial screening. Medicare rebates still apply to the consultation component.

If a biopsy or excision is needed: Additional MBS items apply (e.g. 30071 for punch biopsy, 31356+ for excisions). These may be bulk billed or have a gap fee depending on the clinic.

Yes. If you have a specific spot you're concerned about, you can ask your GP to look at just that spot. This is a "spot check" rather than a full-body skin check. It's quicker and may be covered under a standard short consultation (item 23). However, a full-body check is recommended at least occasionally, as skin cancers can develop in areas you can't easily see yourself (back, scalp, behind ears).

Your GP — most GPs are trained in skin checks and can identify common skin cancers. Many can also perform excisions. This is the most affordable option and easiest to access.

Skin cancer clinic — specialist clinics that focus on skin cancer detection and treatment. They often have advanced dermoscopy and mole-mapping technology. No referral needed. Higher cost but more specialised equipment.

Dermatologist — a specialist doctor for complex or difficult-to-diagnose skin conditions. You usually need a GP referral. Longer wait times but the highest level of expertise for atypical lesions or high-risk patients.

The Cancer Council has excellent free resources for skin cancer prevention and detection. Visit cancer.org.au for information on sun safety, self-checking, and finding skin check services. The SunSmart app shows daily UV levels for your location.