What is the purpose of skin examination in Australia?
In Australia, skin examinations are vital because of the high sun exposure and people’s frequent involvement in outdoor activities. Skin cancer primarily develops from excessive exposure to the sun, eventually putting people living there at high risk of skin cancer. Regular skin checks help detect skin cancer at an early stage, mainly melanoma.
Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, which makes regular skin examination more important for people living there. High exposure to UV rays, outdoor lifestyle and fair-skinned population is why Australia has secured this place. Around two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70.
Skin examinations are necessary to spread awareness, detect and diagnose cancer at an early stage, mainly melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer. Here are the purposes of skin examination in Australia:
Early Detection to Save Further Complications
One of the primary purposes is to detect the cancer early to prevent serious complications. With high exposure to UV rays, people living in Australia have faced a significant increase in the incidence os skin cancer such as melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma.
Squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma are the common types of skin cancer, but one of the rare types of skin cancer is melanoma, which is why its early detection is important, and a frequent treatment plan is also necessary. When these cancers are detected early, you can expect to have less invasive treatment and a straightforward plan for future complications. A SImple procedure can be followed, and you may experience fewer complications.
Increasing Public Awareness
Public awareness is as important as the treatment because heading without applying sunscreen doesn’t seem a smart choice when you know the sun exposure is at a high rate in your area. Skin examinations let people know what precautions they must take when heading out and also lifestyle changes that can help fewer the risks of spreading skin cancer.
Despite numerous public health campaigns, many people still underestimate the dangers of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. When individuals attend regular skin checkups, they become more informed about what skin cancer looks like, when to report to a healthcare professional and when to seek expert advice. Sometimes skin cancer does not come with noticeable changes, so look for suspicious lesions or moles and visit for a regular checkup.
A healthcare expert can help you detect warning signs to monitor and how lifestyle choices can impact your skin. Self-examinations can be taught at the visit, and you can detect the skin cancer on your skin, but remember that what an expert eye can see can be invisible to you.
Reduced Healthcare Costs
Annual skin examinations can help you reduce healthcare costs and treat advanced-stage skin cancer at a lower price. Treating serious conditions can be far more expensive and resouce-intense than addressing them in their early stages.
Early removal of a small lesion can often be done in a GP’s office or outpatient setting, while advanced cancers may require surgery, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy. All of these advanced treatments can be costly and place a greater burden on public health insurance. Annual skin examination can save you from these.
By promoting regular skin checks, the healthcare expert can catch cases early, thereby minimising the need for complex treatments. Recovery time will eventually get reduced, and you can come back to normal activities early.
Encouraging Preventive Behaviour
Skin examinations strongly promote preventive behaviour, which is essential in a sun-drenched country like Australia. When individuals undergo regular skin checks, they become more conscious of the risks associated with sun exposure and more likely to adopt sun-safe habits. These behaviours include applying sunscreen daily, wearing protective clothing, using sunglasses and hats, and avoiding the sun during peak hours.
Your family will get an early prevention, so why invite risks when you can be smart enough to ignore all the risks associated with skin cancer? Sunscreen and protective clothing are not an option, it is a necessity.
Checking High-Risk Groups
The main focus of the skin examinations revolves around the groups of individuals who are at higher risk of getting diagnosed with skin cancer. These include people with fair skin who burn easily, those with a family or personal history of skin cancer, individuals with a large number of moles, and people who work or spend significant time outdoors.
If you think you fall under this category, you must pay a visit to your healthcare professional. Go and get the family checkup done to avoid the risks.
