When you think about your annual health checkups, what comes to mind? Maybe it’s your physical exam, a cholesterol test, a mammogram, a colonoscopy or even a dental cleaning. But there’s one essential screening that many people forget — a skin check.

Did you know skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S.? Did you also know that around 1 million Americans are currently living with melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer? But when it comes to dermatologic health, most of us don’t think twice — unless we notice something obvious or alarming.

A recent survey found that 90% of us put off preventative screenings. Although this study exposed Americans’ apathy toward more mainstream screenings such as heart disease, dental care and women’s health screenings, skin screenings also fall to the wayside in preventative care.

As your body’s largest organ, skin is your first line of defense and a visible indicator of overall health. Still, for many of us, a professional skin screening never makes it on the to-do list.

It’s time to change that.

Today’s artificial-intelligence-supported advancements in medical technology mean that skin screenings are easier to conduct, faster in delivering results and more accurate to ensure that patients get the best care. With early detection being key for recovery, digital-based dermatopathology is elevating patient care.

However, patients must make the first step by scheduling a skin screening. What seems to be a small mole today could become dangerous in months. Without regular skin screenings, early warning signs might be missed.

What is a skin screening — and why should you get one?

Most people are familiar with the full-body visual exam performed by a dermatologist. It only takes about 10-20 minutes and can quite literally save your life.

During the exam, the dermatologist checks your skin for the following:

• New or changing moles.
• Unusual freckles, spots or patches.
• Lesions that don’t heal or bleed easily.
• Growths with irregular borders or coloring.

This “annual audit of your skin’s health” is an effective frontline defense to identify unusual skin patterns before they become serious problems. In addition to visual screening, medical technology innovations, such as the services offered by Precision Epigenomics, take preventative skin care to the molecular level.

What is Precision Epigenomics?

Precision Epigenomics studies changes in gene expression (like DNA methylation) that don’t alter the DNA sequence but can dramatically impact how skin cells behave. These subtle changes can be early indicators of disease, even before visible symptoms appear.

“When a clinician identifies a skin lesion on a patient that has features worrisome for melanoma, a biopsy is performed and typically referred to a laboratory specializing in skin disease to diagnose the lesion as either a nevus (benign) or as a melanoma (cancerous),” says Richard Bernert, chief operating officer at Precision Epigenomics. “In approximately 15% of cases, even very experienced dermatopathologists cannot confidently interpret the findings to render a clear diagnosis of nevus or melanoma.”

Bernert explained that as many as 300,000 such lesions in the U.S. are not easily classified each year. Current advanced studies aiming for a definitive diagnosis have only limited success.

“The unfortunate state is that some ambiguous melanocytic lesions are diagnosed as melanoma when in fact they are benign, while some melanomas are misclassified as nevus, which can have catastrophic results,” Bernert says. “In the former, patients have unnecessary surgery and carry the burden of an incorrect cancer diagnosis when none exists. In the latter, an incompletely removed melanoma thought to be a nevus can grow and spread.”

Current widely accepted melanoma guidelines support the use of ancillary molecular tests like EPISEEK-CM to differentiate benign from malignant melanocytic neoplasms of these diagnostically uncertain lesions.

“Comparing epigenomic data of both melanomas and nevi, we have identified a set of DNA biomarkers that are abnormally chemically modified in melanoma, but not in benign nevi,” Bernert says. “It is transforming preventative skin screenings by offering a deeper, molecular-level view of skin health — beyond what the naked eye or even traditional pathology can detect.”

By analyzing epigenetic markers like DNA methylation, clinicians can be informed of changes in gene expression that signal the earliest stages of melanoma skin cancer.

“This allows for earlier, more accurate detection of conditions like melanoma, significantly increasing the chances of successful treatment and reducing the risk of progression,” Bernert says. “In cases where a visual exam or biopsy result is ambiguous, Precision Epigenomic testing adds a new layer of diagnostic confidence. It helps differentiate between benign moles and malignant lesions by detecting distinct ‘episignatures’ associated with disease. This means fewer unnecessary procedures for patients and more targeted care for those who truly need it.”

Bernert clarified that the test is still in development, but as this innovation becomes more integrated into dermatology, routine skin screenings could evolve into proactive, personalized health checks — empowering both patients and providers to catch melanoma earlier and intervene with greater precision.

The future of skin health and preventive screening

With tools like DNA methylation profiling, clinicians can now distinguish malignant melanoma from benign moles. These molecular insights are more precise and less invasive, often requiring only a small biopsy sample to provide a definitive diagnosis — especially in cases where traditional pathology is unclear or inconclusive.

This new level of diagnostic clarity is particularly helpful for detecting skin disease in its earliest stages, when intervention is most effective, by identifying epigenetic markers unique to each patient.

Early detection still starts with you.

Studies show that people who spot early signs of melanoma experience a 99% recovery rate. Make it a habit to regularly examine your skin for new or changing moles, unusual spots or persistent rashes. Schedule routine skin checks with your dermatologist, especially if you have a family history of skin cancer or chronic skin conditions. And don’t underestimate the power of sun protection. Using sunscreen daily, wearing protective clothing and avoiding tanning beds are simple, proven ways to lower your risk. Pairing personal habits with cutting-edge science is the most powerful way to stay ahead of skin disease.

How to add skin checks to your health routine

Adopting only three habits to your routine will add life-saving benefits to your overall health.

1. Schedule an annual screening with a board-certified dermatologist.
2. Do monthly self-exams using the ABCDE rule to watch for suspicious moles:
   • Asymmetry
   • Border irregularity
   • Color variation
   • Diameter larger than 6 mm
   • Evolving size, shape or color
3. Be proactive, not reactive. Don’t wait until something looks wrong to act.

Your skin deserves the same attention as your heart or lungs

Even skin deep, prevention is the key to long-term health. Let’s not overlook the most visible part of ourselves. Getting a skin screening is quick, painless and one of the simplest ways to take control of your health. So the next time you’re booking your annual physical or dental cleaning, add a dermatology visit to the list.

J’Nel Wright is a content writer at Fullcast, a Silicon Slopes-based, end-to-end RevOps platform that allows companies to design, manage and track the performance of their revenue-generating teams.