When Should You Get a Full-Body Skin Check? A Practical Guide for Tennesseans

What a full-body skin check is, and what this page covers

A full-body skin check is a visit where a clinician looks over your skin, rather than examining only one spot you came in about. Practices describe and schedule these visits in different ways, so the exact scope, timing and setup vary from office to office.

We are an independent information site, not a medical practice. We can't tell you whether you personally need an exam or how often. What we can do is explain how to start that conversation, what to ask before your appointment, how to check credentials, and where dermatology care is offered in Tennessee. For the medical side, your physician and official professional sources come first.

Who should consider one? Start with a conversation

People usually ask about a full-body skin check for one of two reasons. Either they noticed something on their skin that looks new or different, or they want to know whether routine checks make sense for them. In both cases, the best first step is a conversation with a doctor who knows your history.

If you have a primary care doctor, that is often the easiest place to start. They can look at a specific concern, talk through your history and tell you whether a dermatology visit makes sense. Depending on your insurance plan, they may also need to write a referral.

Questions worth bringing to that appointment:

• Given my personal and family history, should I have a full-body skin check?
• If so, should it be with a dermatologist, and how soon?
• How often should I come back, and who decides that?
• Is there anything you want me to watch for between visits?
• Do I need a referral from you for my insurance plan?

Write down your family history before the visit, including relatives who have had skin conditions or skin cancer, if you know. Clinicians are better able to advise you when they have that information in front of them.

Warning signs and the ABCDEs: go to the official source

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the professional body for dermatologists in the US, publishes patient guidance on the ABCDEs of melanoma. It is a checklist meant to help people notice moles and spots that should be looked at by a professional. Many dermatology offices refer to it.

A practical habit that does not require any medical knowledge: if you notice something on your skin, take a clear, dated photo of it on your phone. That gives the clinician something concrete to compare against. Show the photos at your visit, but do not use them to diagnose yourself, and do not send health photos to anyone outside your care team.

What happens during the visit: ask before you go

Because practices differ, the most reliable way to know what your exam will involve is to ask the office when you book. The questions below cover the things that most often surprise patients.

If a spot needs further evaluation or treatment, our guide to skin cancer checks and Mohs surgery in Tennessee covers referrals, scheduling and what to expect afterward.

How to book a full-body skin check in Tennessee

1. Check your insurance firstCall the member services number on your card. Ask whether you need a referral to see a dermatologist, which practices are in network, and how a skin check is covered under your plan.
2. Talk to your primary care doctor if you have oneThey can advise whether you need a full-body exam and write a referral if your plan requires one.
3. Choose a practiceUse your insurer's directory, your doctor's suggestion, or a regional academic center. Our independent guide to finding a dermatologist in Tennessee explains the options.
4. Verify the clinician's licenseLook up the physician through the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners license verification link before your visit.
5. Ask the booking questionsUse the table above so you know the visit type, who you will see and how billing works.
6. Prepare at homeNote your history, medications and any spots you have photographed, plus your questions.

Academic dermatology programs in Tennessee

Three of the state's medical schools have dermatology departments or divisions. Academic centers often see complex cases and referrals, but they are not the only option, and many community practices offer skin exams. Listing them here is not a recommendation of any center or physician.

A few more details from those pages. Vanderbilt lists skin cancer epidemiology and new skin imaging technologies among its research areas. Its Dermatology Translational Research Clinic offers noninvasive skin biopsies using reflectance confocal microscopy. Whether that is relevant to you is a question for your physician.

At UTHSC, dermatology was a division of the Department of Medicine for more than 50 years and became a separate department in 2012, according to the chair's message. The department offers care at several locations in the Memphis medical district. It was officially named the Kaplan-Amonette Department of Dermatology on July 30, 2013.

We have not yet reviewed dermatology services at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, Erlanger in Chattanooga or other regional health systems. If you live in East or Southeast Tennessee, check those systems' own websites and your insurer's directory.

Check the clinician's license before your visit

In Tennessee, physicians are licensed by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners, part of the Tennessee Department of Health. The board was created by the State Legislature in 1901, and its stated mission is to protect the health, safety and welfare of people in Tennessee. It sets standards of practice and licenses medical doctors. It also licenses physician assistants, medical spas and office-based surgery centers.

The board's page has a License Verifications link, and disciplinary actions are posted on the Department of Health license verification website. Checking takes a few minutes and is worth doing for any clinician you plan to see.

License and board certification are separate things. A Tennessee Department of Health FAQ notes that some license types require proof of board certification or eligibility from an American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) board. To confirm whether a physician is board certified in dermatology, see our guide on how to check a Tennessee dermatologist's license and board certification.

Insurance, referrals and cost

Coverage for a full-body skin check depends on your plan, and the rules differ between employer plans, marketplace plans, Medicare and TennCare. We can't tell you what your plan covers, but you can find out with a short call.

• Do I need a referral from my primary care doctor to see a dermatologist?
• Which dermatology practices near me are in network?
• How is a full-body skin exam covered, and does it count as preventive care?
• If the clinician removes or tests a spot during the visit, how is that billed?
• What would my copay, coinsurance or deductible be for this visit?

Write down the date, the name of the person you spoke with and any reference number. Our guide to dermatology insurance, referrals and costs in Tennessee goes into more detail.

Preparing at home

A little preparation makes the visit smoother and helps you remember what you meant to ask.

• A list of current medications and supplements.
• Your personal and family history of skin problems, as far as you know it.
• Dated phone photos of any spots you have been watching.
• Your insurance card, photo ID and referral, if your plan requires one.
• Your questions, written down, with the most important one first.
• Clothing that is easy to change out of if the office uses gowns.

After the visit, ask when you should come back and write it down. If the clinician mentions follow-up testing or a referral, confirm who will contact whom and when.