A dermatology appointment typically lasts about 20 minutes and follows a straightforward sequence: a medical history review, a skin examination, and a discussion of any findings or concerns. First visits run a bit longer, closer to 30 minutes, because there’s more background to cover. Here’s what to expect from start to finish.
Before You Arrive
A little preparation makes the appointment more productive. Skip makeup on the day of your visit, since even subtle skin cancers on the face can hide under foundation or concealer. Remove nail polish and artificial nails too. Skin cancer can develop under your nails, and polish makes it impossible for your dermatologist to check for discoloration. If you use scalp powder for thinning hair or heavy hairspray, consider going without, as both make it harder to examine your scalp thoroughly. Self-tanner is fine.
You’ll also want to bring a list of all your current medications, including vitamins, supplements, and over-the-counter products. The intake form will ask about blood thinners specifically, since these affect whether certain procedures can be done safely that day. Be ready to note any family history of skin cancer, previous skin treatments, and any spots that have changed recently.
Check your insurance plan before scheduling. PPO plans generally let you book directly with a dermatologist, but HMO plans typically require a referral from your primary care doctor first. Medicaid usually requires a referral, and Medicare rules vary depending on whether you have original Medicare or an Advantage plan. Without insurance, expect to pay $150 to $300 for a first visit and $100 to $200 for follow-ups.
The Medical History Review
Your appointment starts with paperwork and a conversation. The dermatologist or a medical assistant will go over your past medical history, including any skin conditions you’ve had before, medications you’re currently taking, and your family’s history of skin cancer or other skin diseases. If you’re coming in for a specific concern, like a changing mole or a persistent rash, this is the time to describe it in detail: when it started, whether it’s gotten worse, what you’ve already tried, and how it affects your daily life.
This background helps the dermatologist narrow down possible causes before they even look at your skin. Certain medications cause skin reactions, some conditions run in families, and a spot that’s been changing for three months tells a different story than one that appeared last week.
The Full Body Skin Exam
You’ll be given privacy to undress and put on a medical gown. The exam itself is systematic, working from the top of your body down. Your dermatologist will part your hair to inspect your entire scalp, then move to your face, checking your forehead, eyelids, nose, cheeks, lips, and chin. They’ll look at the front, sides, and back of your ears, then move to your neck.
From there, they examine your arms, hands, palms, and individual fingers, including the spaces between fingers and under each nail. The trunk comes next: chest, abdomen, sides, and back. For the lower body, they check your thighs, legs, ankles, feet, the spaces between your toes, and your toenails.
Sensitive areas like the genitals, buttocks, and perianal region are part of a complete exam because skin cancer can develop anywhere, but your dermatologist will ask your permission first and explain what they’re doing. You can decline this portion at any time, and some patients prefer to have a gynecologist check the genital area instead. A chaperone is typically present for these parts of the exam.
The whole thing moves quickly. It can feel oddly brief given how many body parts are being checked, but dermatologists are trained to scan skin efficiently and zero in on anything unusual.
What the Dermatoscope Shows
If your dermatologist spots something worth a closer look, they’ll pull out a dermatoscope, a small handheld magnifying device that illuminates the uppermost layers of your skin. It reveals structures invisible to the naked eye: patterns of blood vessels, pigment distribution, and subtle textures that help distinguish a harmless mole from something concerning.
For melanoma screening, this tool significantly improves diagnostic accuracy. It can also help identify conditions like psoriasis by revealing characteristic capillary patterns, or distinguish between common hives and a more serious vascular condition based on tiny details beneath the skin’s surface. Some dermatologists photograph spots with the dermatoscope so they can compare images at future visits and detect slow changes over time.
Procedures That May Happen Same Day
Depending on what your dermatologist finds, you might have a minor procedure done right then.
- Biopsy: If a spot looks suspicious, the dermatologist numbs the area with a local anesthetic, removes all or part of the lesion, applies ointment, and covers it with a bandage. The sample goes to a lab for analysis. You’ll typically get results in about a week, usually by phone call or through a patient portal.
- Cryotherapy: For precancerous spots, warts, or certain benign growths, the dermatologist may apply liquid nitrogen using a spray device or cotton swab. The extreme cold destroys the abnormal tissue. The frozen skin blisters and peels off over the following days, and healthy skin grows in its place.
Both procedures are quick and done with little to no downtime. A biopsy site needs basic wound care (keeping it clean and covered), and a cryotherapy spot may be tender and blistered for a few days. Neither requires stitches in most cases.
The Discussion Afterward
Once the exam is complete and any immediate procedures are done, your dermatologist will walk you through their findings. If everything looks normal, the conversation is short: they’ll recommend how often you should come back for screening (once a year is standard for most people) and may suggest a daily sunscreen routine or point out spots to keep an eye on at home.
If they’ve identified a condition, whether it’s acne, eczema, psoriasis, a suspicious mole, or something else, they’ll explain what it is and lay out treatment options. These might include topical creams or ointments, injectable medications, light therapy, chemical peels, or in some cases surgical removal. The plan depends entirely on what they find, and you’ll have a chance to ask questions about side effects, timelines, and what to expect.
If a biopsy was taken, the full treatment plan may wait until results come back. Your dermatologist’s office will contact you with those results, and if further treatment is needed, they’ll schedule a follow-up at that point.
How Often to Go Back
For routine skin cancer screening, most people need an appointment once a year. If you have a history of skin cancer, many moles, or a strong family history of melanoma, your dermatologist may want to see you every six months or even quarterly. For ongoing conditions like acne or psoriasis, follow-up frequency depends on how well treatment is working, often every few months until things stabilize, then less often.