A full body skin exam is one of those appointments people often intend to schedule, then put off for another six months.

Sometimes it is because nothing looks obviously wrong. Sometimes it is because the idea of having every spot examined feels uncomfortable. And sometimes patients simply do not know what happens during the visit or whether insurance will cover it.

At Mandel Dermatology in Palm Beach Gardens, a full body skin exam is a medical appointment focused on identifying suspicious, precancerous, and cancerous skin changes, as well as other conditions that may be visible during the examination.

Appointments begin September 8, 2026 at our office at 3345 Burns Road, Suite 101.

Who Should Consider a Full Body Skin Exam?

There is no single schedule that is right for every person. How often you should be examined depends on your personal risk factors, prior findings, and what your dermatology provider sees on your skin.

A skin exam may be especially important if you have a personal or family history of skin cancer, many moles, atypical moles, significant sun exposure, frequent tanning-bed use, a history of serious sunburns, fair skin, or a weakened immune system.

You should also make an appointment when you notice a spot that is new, changing, bleeding, painful, persistently irritated, or simply looks different from everything around it.

Do not wait for a routine annual visit when a particular lesion is actively changing. A focused appointment can be scheduled sooner.

What Actually Happens During the Exam?

The appointment begins with questions about your skin history. Your provider may ask whether you have had skin cancer or atypical moles before, whether close relatives have had melanoma, and whether there are any specific spots you want checked.

You will then be given privacy to change into a gown. The provider will examine your skin in an organized way, usually moving from one area of the body to the next so nothing is unintentionally skipped.

The exam may include the scalp, face, ears, neck, chest, abdomen, back, arms, hands, legs, feet, and other areas depending on your history and concerns. Areas covered by underwear are examined based on medical need and your comfort. You can always ask questions or decline examination of a particular area.

The provider may use a handheld magnifying device called a dermatoscope to look more closely at the colors and structures within a mole or growth.

Will Every Mole Be Removed?

No. Most moles and skin growths seen during a full body skin exam do not need to be removed.

Some spots are clearly benign. Others may be photographed or measured so they can be compared over time. A lesion is generally biopsied only when the provider believes a tissue sample is needed to determine what it is.

If a biopsy is recommended, the area is numbed and a small sample is removed. The specimen is then sent to a pathology laboratory. The technique used depends on the size, depth, location, and appearance of the spot.

If the pathology result shows a precancerous lesion or skin cancer, the next step depends on the exact diagnosis. Treatment may involve medication, destruction of the lesion, excision, or referral for Mohs surgery when appropriate.

What Should You Do Before the Appointment?

Arrive without heavy body makeup, self-tanner, or thick products covering the areas you want examined when possible. Remove nail polish if you have a concerning spot under or around a nail.

Make a quick note of anything you have noticed changing. Photos on your phone can be helpful when a spot looked different several weeks earlier or a rash comes and goes.

If you have had prior biopsies, melanoma, or other skin cancers, bring the pathology reports or ask the prior practice to send your records. Knowing the exact diagnosis and location is more helpful than simply knowing that “something was removed.”

Can You Discuss Other Skin Problems During the Exam?

Usually, yes, but it helps to tell the office when scheduling.

A skin exam is already a detailed visit. If you also want to address uncontrolled acne, a complicated rash, hair loss, or several unrelated concerns, the provider may need additional time or a separate follow-up appointment.

Cosmetic concerns can also be discussed, but cosmetic consultations and treatments are scheduled differently from medical skin exams. If you want to talk about Botox, fillers, pigmentation, microneedling, chemical peels, or another elective treatment, mention that when booking so the visit can be planned correctly.

Learn more about our medical dermatology services and cosmetic dermatology services before your appointment.

How Much Does a Full Body Skin Exam Cost?

Your cost depends on your insurance plan, whether Mandel Dermatology is in network, your specialist copay, deductible, coinsurance, and whether any additional procedures are performed.

A full body skin exam is billed as a specialist medical evaluation. It is not billed as a primary-care annual physical or Medicare wellness visit, even though patients often think of it as preventive.

A biopsy, treatment, pathology analysis, or surgery may create separate charges beyond the office visit.

For a more detailed explanation, read our article on dermatology visits and preventive insurance codes.

Will Insurance Cover a Skin Exam?

Many insurance plans cover medically necessary dermatology evaluations subject to the plan's normal specialist benefits. That does not necessarily mean the visit is covered at no cost to you.

Mandel Dermatology's Palm Beach Gardens office will accept most major commercial insurance plans and Medicare. You can review our insurance information and email the front and back of your insurance card to billing@mandeldermatology.com for verification.

Verification is useful, but your insurer ultimately determines coverage and patient responsibility after the claim is processed.

What Happens After the Exam?

If everything looks reassuring, the provider will recommend when to return based on your risk level and findings. That may be sooner than one year for a patient with prior melanoma or numerous atypical moles, or less frequent for someone at lower risk.

Between visits, pay attention to spots that are new or evolving. Look for changes in shape, border, color, size, sensation, bleeding, or healing. The most useful comparison is often not whether a mole looks “bad,” but whether it is changing or looks unlike your other spots.

Schedule a Full Body Skin Exam in Palm Beach Gardens

Full body skin exams will be available with Dr. Mitchell Mandel and Christine Sacco, FNP-C at Mandel Dermatology Palm Beach Gardens.

Visit the Palm Beach Gardens location page for office information or use our online appointment page to schedule beginning September 8, 2026.

The exam itself is straightforward. The more important step is simply getting it onto your calendar instead of continuing to postpone it.