Healthy Skin Month: Why You Need a Year-End Skin Check in Bedford

Every November, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) observes National Healthy Skin Month, a nationwide reminder to pay attention to the body’s largest organ. As a board-certified dermatologist here in Bedford, I think of it a little differently: it’s the month I encourage every patient in the Mid-Cities to put a skin check on the calendar before the year runs out.

Our North Texas summers are long, bright, and hard on skin. By the time the first real cold front rolls through Tarrant County, most of us have spent months at Little League fields in Hurst, patios in Grapevine, lakes around Keller and Southlake, and sidelines at high school football games. That sun exposure adds up. November is the natural moment to take inventory.

Here’s what a skin cancer screening actually involves, who needs one, and why the end of the year is one of the smartest times to schedule it.

Why Skin Checks Matter So Much in Texas

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Roughly one in five Americans will develop some form of it by age 70. The good news is that the vast majority of skin cancers are highly treatable when they’re caught early. Melanoma, the most serious type, has an excellent five-year survival rate when it’s found before it spreads.

That’s the entire point of screening: finding things early, when treatment is simpler and outcomes are best.

In the Dallas–Fort Worth area, UV exposure isn’t a summer-only issue. The UV index here regularly climbs into the high range for much of the year, and even on mild fall days in Bedford, UV rays are reaching your skin through car windows and cloud cover. Patients who grew up in Texas, spent years outdoors for work or sports, or used tanning beds carry a higher lifetime exposure than they often realize.

What Happens During a Full Body Skin Exam

Many patients put off their first skin check simply because they aren’t sure what to expect. At Essential Dermatology Group, a full body skin exam is quick, private, and painless. It typically takes about 10 to 15 minutes.

Step 1: A brief history

We’ll ask about your personal and family history of skin cancer, prior sunburns, tanning bed use, and any spots you’ve noticed changing. Bring a list of anything that concerns you. You know your skin better than anyone.

Step 2: A head-to-toe examination

You’ll change into a gown, and I’ll examine your skin from scalp to soles, including areas people rarely check on their own: the scalp, behind the ears, between the toes, and the backs of the legs. You’re always welcome to keep undergarments on and to tell us about any area you’d prefer we skip.

Step 3: Dermoscopy for suspicious spots

For any mole or growth that looks unusual, I use a dermatoscope, a handheld magnifying light that lets me see structures beneath the skin’s surface. Dermoscopy helps distinguish harmless spots from ones that need a closer look, which means fewer unnecessary biopsies.

Step 4: A plan

Most exams end with good news and a recommendation for when to return. (For a deeper walk-through of the visit, see our guide to your yearly skin exam.) If something needs attention, we’ll talk through next steps, which may include a simple in-office biopsy, the same day in many cases.

Who Should Get a Skin Cancer Screening?

There’s no single rule that fits everyone, but I generally recommend an annual full body skin exam for patients who have:

• A personal history of skin cancer or precancerous spots (actinic keratoses)
• A family history of melanoma
• More than 50 moles, or moles that look atypical
• Fair skin that burns easily, light eyes, or red or blond hair
• A history of blistering sunburns, especially in childhood
• Past tanning bed use
• A weakened immune system, including organ transplant recipients
• Significant outdoor work or recreation, which describes a lot of North Texans

If none of those apply, a baseline skin check is still valuable, especially after 40. It gives us a reference point, and it gives you peace of mind.

Skin Cancer Screening for Darker Skin Tones

One of the most persistent myths I hear from patients in Euless, Bedford, and across Tarrant County is that people with darker skin don’t get skin cancer. They do. Skin cancer is less common in skin of color, but when it happens it’s more often diagnosed at a later stage, and that delay is what makes it more dangerous.

In patients with brown and Black skin, melanoma is more likely to appear in places that get little sun: the palms, the soles of the feet, under the fingernails or toenails, and inside the mouth. A dark streak running lengthwise down a nail, a new dark spot on the bottom of the foot, or a sore that won’t heal deserves a professional look.

Our practice has particular expertise in skin of color, and our exams are designed with these patterns in mind. Everyone deserves a thorough skin check, regardless of skin tone.

The ABCDEs: What to Watch for at Home

Between professional exams, monthly self-checks help you catch changes early. Use a full-length mirror and a hand mirror, or ask a partner to help with your back and scalp. For moles, remember the ABCDEs of melanoma:

• A — Asymmetry: One half doesn’t match the other.
• B — Border: Edges are irregular, ragged, or blurred.
• C — Color: Multiple shades of brown, black, red, white, or blue.
• D — Diameter: Larger than about 6 millimeters (the size of a pencil eraser), though melanomas can be smaller.
• E — Evolving: Any change in size, shape, color, or symptoms like itching or bleeding.

Also watch for the “ugly duckling,” a spot that looks different from all your other moles, and any sore that bleeds, crusts, and doesn’t heal within a few weeks. Those can be signs of basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma, the two most common skin cancers.

Why November Is the Smartest Time to Schedule

Earlier this year, I wrote about why spring is a great time for a skin check in Texas, before the heavy sun season begins. November is its counterpart: the time to review what the summer left behind. Beyond National Healthy Skin Month, there are practical reasons the end of the year works well for a skin check:

You may have already met your deductible. Many patients in the HEB area have reached their annual deductible by fall. If that’s you, any follow-up care, such as a biopsy or treatment of precancerous spots, may cost less now than in January when deductibles reset. Coverage varies by plan, so check with your insurer or call our front desk and we’ll help you verify benefits.

Flexible spending dollars may be expiring. If you have a flexible spending account (FSA), many plans require you to use the balance by December 31 or lose it. Eligible dermatology care is a smart use of those funds. Confirm your plan’s rules and deadlines.

Your skin is showing its summer story. After a full Texas summer, new or changing spots are easier to identify, and we can treat precancerous lesions before next spring’s sun season begins.

Winter is a good time to treat. If you need a procedure, the lower-UV months make healing easier and reduce the risk of sun-related discoloration while your skin recovers.

Beyond Cancer: Healthy Skin Month Is About Your Whole Skin

National Healthy Skin Month isn’t only about skin cancer. It’s a good time to address the skin issues you’ve been living with, too. A year-end visit is a great opportunity to talk about:

• Eczema or dry, itchy skin that tends to flare as North Texas weather turns cold
• Acne at any age, including adult and hormonal acne
• Psoriasis, rosacea, and other chronic conditions
• Hair thinning or shedding
• Dark spots, melasma, and uneven skin tone from summer sun

Your skin often reflects what’s happening in the rest of your body. Changes in texture, color, hair, or nails can sometimes point to underlying health issues, which is one more reason regular dermatology care is worth it.

Simple Healthy Skin Habits to Start This Month

You don’t need a 12-step routine to keep your skin healthy. Here’s what I recommend to patients from Colleyville to North Richland Hills:

1. Wear broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every day, including cloudy and cool days. Reapply every two hours when you’re outdoors.
2. Moisturize daily, ideally within a few minutes of bathing, to lock in water.
3. Choose gentle, fragrance-free cleansers, especially as the air gets drier.
4. Do a monthly self-check using the ABCDEs.
5. Skip tanning beds entirely. There is no safe tan from UV.
6. See a board-certified dermatologist for anything new, changing, or not healing.

Schedule Your Skin Check in Bedford

At Essential Dermatology Group, our board-certified dermatologists, Dr. Calvin Williams and Dr. Shaun Cooper, provide thorough skin cancer screenings for patients throughout Bedford, Hurst, Euless, Colleyville, Grapevine, North Richland Hills, Southlake, and Keller. Our office is conveniently located at 1600 Central Drive, Suite 158, in Bedford, in the heart of the HEB area.

Celebrate National Healthy Skin Month by giving your skin the attention it deserves. Call 682-503-2023 or request an appointment online to schedule your full body skin exam before the year ends.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I get a skin cancer screening?

Most adults with risk factors, such as a history of skin cancer, many moles, fair skin, or significant sun exposure, benefit from a yearly full body skin exam. Patients with a prior melanoma may need visits every 3 to 6 months. Your dermatologist will recommend a schedule based on your personal risk.

How long does a full body skin exam take?

A typical skin cancer screening takes about 10 to 15 minutes. It’s painless and noninvasive. If a spot needs a biopsy, that can often be done during the same visit.

Can people with darker skin get skin cancer?

Yes. Skin cancer is less common in skin of color, but it’s often diagnosed later, which can make it more serious. Melanoma in darker skin frequently appears on the palms, soles, nails, or inside the mouth, so a thorough exam of those areas is important.

Is a skin cancer screening covered by insurance?

Many insurance plans cover skin cancer screenings, particularly for patients with risk factors or a spot of concern. Coverage varies, so check with your plan or call our Bedford office and our team can help verify your benefits.

What should I do before my skin check?

Remove nail polish so we can examine your nails, skip heavy makeup, and wear your hair loose. Make a note of any spots that are new, changing, itching, or bleeding so we can look at them closely.