A full-body skin exam is the fastest way to catch skin cancer early — when treatment is simplest and cure rates are highest. At Fayetteville Dermatology, screenings are performed personally by Dr. James Prezzano, a board-certified dermatologist and fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon. That matters: the person examining your skin is the same specialist who diagnoses and surgically treats skin cancer every working day.
What Happens During a Full-Body Skin Exam
The exam takes about 10-20 minutes. You'll change into a gown, and Dr. Prezzano will systematically examine your skin from scalp to soles — including easy-to-miss areas like the scalp, behind the ears, between fingers and toes, and under nails. He uses dermoscopy, a polarized magnifying lens, to evaluate pigment and blood vessel patterns beneath the surface that aren't visible to the naked eye.
This is also your time: point out anything new, changing, itching, or bleeding, and anything that simply worries you. No spot is too small to mention.
Who Should Be Screened — and How Often
For most adults, a skin exam once a year is a sensible baseline. Dr. Prezzano may recommend every 6-12 months if you have:
- A previous skin cancer — roughly 4 in 10 patients develop a second one within five years
- A family history of melanoma
- Many moles (50+) or moles that look atypical
- Fair skin, a history of sunburns, or tanning bed use
- A weakened immune system (organ transplant, certain medications)
- An outdoor job or lifestyle — common across Central New York's farming, construction, and lake communities
What We Look For
Melanoma warning signs follow the ABCDE rule: Asymmetry, irregular Borders, uneven Colors, Diameter over 6mm, and Evolving spots. Just as important are the signs of the more common non-melanoma cancers: pearly bumps, sores that don't heal or that heal and reopen, and rough, scaly patches that keep coming back in sun-exposed spots.
If you'd like a specific mole evaluated — or removed — that can usually happen in the same visit. See our mole removal page for how that works.
If We Find Something Suspicious
A suspicious spot is biopsied during the same visit, under local anesthetic — it adds just a few minutes. The sample goes to pathology, results are usually back within 1-2 weeks, and we contact you either way.
If a biopsy does come back as skin cancer, you're already in the right place: Dr. Prezzano performs both standard excisions and Mohs micrographic surgery on-site, and treatment is typically scheduled within 1-2 weeks. No referral to a separate surgical practice, no starting over with a new doctor.
Why Have Your Skin Checked by a Mohs Surgeon
Screening is pattern recognition, and Dr. Prezzano's daily work — diagnosing, operating on, and studying skin cancer, including published research on squamous cell carcinoma grading — keeps that pattern recognition sharp. He is board-certified in both Dermatology and Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery, and appointments are typically available within a week.
If it's been more than a year since someone looked at your skin — or no one ever has — this is one of the easiest, highest-value appointments in medicine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Once a year is reasonable for most adults. If you've had skin cancer, have many or atypical moles, or significant sun damage, every 6-12 months. A history of melanoma means a closer schedule.
Skin exams are typically covered as a medical visit, especially with risk factors, a concerning spot, or a personal or family history of skin cancer. Coverage details vary by plan — call us and we'll help you confirm.
No — it's a visual exam, aided by dermoscopy. If a spot needs a biopsy, that's done under local anesthetic: a brief pinch, then a few painless minutes.
Usually 10-20 minutes. A first visit runs a little longer because we also review your history, sun exposure, and risk factors.
Very little preparation is needed. If possible, come without makeup or nail polish so all of your skin and nails can be examined, wear your hair loose, and make a mental note of any spots you're concerned about. No fasting or medication changes required.
Schedule Your Mohs Consultation
If you've been diagnosed with a skin cancer — or your primary care provider or another dermatologist has recommended Mohs surgery — we typically have appointments available within the same week.
We accept most major insurance plans including Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, United Healthcare, and Medicare.
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