Australia Skin Cancer Check Reminder
Get skin cancer screening reminders tailored to UV index and skin type. Shows melanoma risk and recommends professional check schedules.
Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world due to intense sun exposure
🧴 Sun Protection
- • Apply SPF 30+ sunscreen daily (year-round)
- • Reapply every 2 hours and after swimming
- • Wear protective clothing, hats, and sunglasses
- • Avoid sun between 10am-3pm (peak UV)
- • Check UV index daily before outdoor activities
🔍 When to See a Doctor
Get checked if you notice:
- • New moles or spots
- • Changes in size, shape, or color of existing moles
- • Itching, bleeding, or oozing from skin lesions
- • Scaly or crusty patches that won't heal
Australia's Skin Cancer Reality
Australia has the highest skin cancer rates in the world. 2 in 3 Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by age 70. Melanoma is the third most common cancer in Australian men and women. The good news: when detected early, melanoma has a 90%+ 5-year survival rate. The bad news: late detection drops that to 30-50%.
Cancer Council Australia recommends self-checks every 3 months and professional skin checks annually for adults, especially after age 40. People with risk factors (fair skin, red hair, blue eyes, history of sunburn, family history of melanoma, multiple moles, immunosuppression) should consider 6-monthly professional checks.
Self-Check Method (ABCDE)
Asymmetry: one half doesn't match the other. Border: irregular, ragged, blurred edges. Colour: varied within the same spot - tans, blacks, blues, whites. Diameter: larger than 6mm (pencil eraser). Evolving: changing in size, shape, colour, or symptoms. Any spot meeting one or more ABCDE criteria warrants professional review.
Beyond ABCDE: 'ugly duckling' moles that look different from your other moles. New moles appearing after age 40. Spots that itch, bleed, or don't heal. Photos every 3-6 months help track changes you might not notice gradually. Apps like Skinvision, Molescope use AI-assisted analysis but should supplement, not replace, professional examination.
Professional Skin Checks
Bulk-billed GP skin check: free at GPs offering bulk-billing, but quick (5-10 min) and usually only spots they look at. Full body skin check at a skin cancer clinic: $150-300, typically 30-45 min including dermoscopy of suspicious spots. Skin cancer specialist or dermatologist: $200-400, more thorough but Medicare rebate covers some costs.
Medicare rebates apply to most skin checks at GPs (Medicare item 36). Specialist dermatologist visits typically need GP referral (though direct booking allowed). Mole mapping (full-body photographic survey for tracking) costs $300-600 - worthwhile for high-risk patients (multiple moles, family history).
Prevention
Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen (SPF 30+ broad spectrum, applied every 2 hours), slap on a hat, seek shade, slide on sunglasses. UV is most intense 10am-3pm in Australian summer; even 'cool' days have high UV. Daily SPF 30+ moisturiser for face and hands is now common practice for many Australians.
Sunburn is cumulative damage. Each childhood sunburn doubles the lifetime melanoma risk. Outdoor workers, athletes, beach lovers should consider higher SPF (50+) and physical sun-protective clothing. The SunSmart UV alert on weather apps shows when UV exceeds 3 (when sunburn becomes easy). Use the [Australia Income Tax Calculator](/australia-income-tax-calculator) for broader Australian context.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I get checked?
Annual professional check minimum for adults. 6-monthly if you have moderate risk factors (fair skin, history of sunburn). 3-monthly if high risk (previous skin cancer, family history, immunosuppression, many atypical moles). Self-checks every 3 months between professional appointments.
What does a skin check actually involve?
Doctor examines all skin (head to toe) including scalp (parted hair), behind ears, soles of feet, between toes, fingernails. Dermoscope (handheld magnifier with light) used on suspicious spots. Photos taken of suspicious or changing moles for comparison at next visit. Suspicious spots biopsied (usually shave biopsy) sent for pathology.
What if a spot is removed?
Biopsy or excision under local anaesthetic at the clinic visit, typically takes 5-15 minutes. Stitches in for 7-10 days, scar permanent but usually small. Pathology results in 1-2 weeks. If positive, more extensive surgery (wide excision) may be needed to ensure clear margins.
Is solarium use legal in Australia?
Commercial solariums (sunbeds) banned in Australia since 2014 due to skin cancer risk. UK solariums still legal but heavily regulated. Australian regulations also ban tanning of under-18s. Solarium use, even briefly, dramatically increases melanoma risk - dose-response relationship is well-established in research.