Frequently Asked Questions
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A Full Body Skin Check is a comprehensive skin cancer assessment completed by a qualified skin cancer doctor. The entire skin surface is examined carefully using a hand-held skin microscope called a dermatoscope. With regular skin checks, skin cancer can be detected as early as possible - when it is easiest to treat.
At SkinScreen West Coast, you will be seen by Dr Calum Stannett, a specialist GP with advanced training in skin cancer medicine and dermatoscopy. Your skin will be assessed thoroughly, and any lesions that you are specifically concerned about will be checked carefully.
If any treatment is required, Dr Stannett will explain this and co-ordinate a management plan with you. This may include immediate treatment of any precancerous lesions that are identified.
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Many health insurance providers do provide cover for consultations relating to skin cancers; This includes skin checks, treatments and procedures.
If you have cover with Southern Cross Wellbeing One or Wellbeing Two, then all or part of your skin check and treatment at SkinSCreen West Coast may be covered.
We are a Southern Cross Easy Claim provider. This means that we have an agreement with Southern Cross, allowing us to charge them directly on the same day as your appointment via their Easy Claim portal. This avoids the need for you to claim for a reimbursement.
We recommend that you check your individual policy to find out if you are covered.
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Absolutely! This is your appointment and we are happy to accommodate any family members, friends or support people who you choose to bring with you.
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‘Molemap’ is a term often used interchangeably with any kind of skin check; however it can also have several other meanings.
At SkinScreen West Coast, we offer a Full Body Skin Check service. You will see a specialist GP (qualified medical doctor) with advanced training in skin cancer medicine and digital dermatoscopy, who will carefully examine your whole body from top-to-toe using a handheld skin microscope called a dermatoscope. If the doctor identifies any moles that they think may be a skin cancer, they will explain this to you during your appointment - and discuss a management plan with you.
If you need any treatments, then these can often be completed on the same day. If a procedure is required then this will be discussed with you and can be booked in at a later date.
‘Molemap’ is also sometimes used to mean Total Body Photography. This differs from a full body skin check, as photographic images of your whole body are taken and stored, for comparison to subsequent images taken after an interval, usually of around 12 months. These images are taken with a digital camera; not a dermatoscope.
SkinScreen West Coast don’t currently offer this service; however we hope to be able to provide this in the future.
At SkinScreen West Coast, we’re proud to offer Coasters a streamlined service where you’ll leave your skin check appointment with a clear plan. You’ll see the same doctor every time, who can provide any treatments required right here on the Coast, without the need to travel over the hill.
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SkinScreen West Coast is committed to ensuring that your dignity and privacy are respected at all times. We aim to provide a safe and comfortable environment so that you can feel confident knowing that your skin will be checked thoroughly whilst maintaining modesty.
For a Full Body Skin Check, you will be asked to undress to your underwear. Our examination room has a curtain to allow you to undress in privacy. A modesty blanket will be provided.
A Full Body Skin Check does typically involve examination of the breasts; however, this can usually be done without having to remove the bra. If you prefer that breast examination is not included in the examination, then you will have an opportunity to communicate this to the doctor during your skin check. The doctor will always obtain verbal consent from you before this part of the examination, and care will be taken to ensure that your modesty is maintained throughout.
Skin underneath underwear is not routinely examined as part of a skin check; however you will be asked if you have any concerns about your skin in this area, and if you do have any concerns then this can be examined as required.
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Yes, absolutely. You are entitled to bring a chaperone to your appointment and we want to ensure that you feel safe and supported throughout your skin check.
We are also able to provide a chaperone for your appointment. If you would like us to arrange this, we would be grateful if you could let us know in advance of your appointment, where possible.
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If you would like to purchase a gift voucher for a friend, colleague or loved one then please get in touch with us at reception@skinscreen.co.nz
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Our clinic is located in a dedicated clinic room within the Greymouth Chiropractic clinic at 94 High Street, Greymouth.
Parking is available directly outside the clinic and on High Street.
When you arrive, please enter through the main front entrance. Let the receptionist know that you have arrived, and take a seat in the waiting room.
Please also note that our clinic is situated very close to the Greymouth Cancer Society building which is located at 98 High Street.
If you are at the chiropracters clinic, you are in the right place!
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Yes, absolutely.
We frequently receive referrals from GPs, nurse practitioners, or other skin check services who have identified a concerning lesion.
If someone else has identified a suspicious lesion and you’d like to see us for further assessment and/or to discuss potential treatment options, please ask the referring doctor/nurse to send us an electronic referral.
If for any reason this isn’t possible, then please send an email to reception@skinscreen.co.nz with as much detail as possible and we will get in touch to discuss next steps.
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In preparation for your skin check, please ensure that all make-up and nail polish is removed.
Our skin cancer doctor uses digital dermatoscopy to examine your skin. Unfortunately, make-up and nail polish obscure the view of your skin and nails and can mask potential skin cancers.
Make-up removal wipes and nail polish remover is available within the clinic; however it is preferable that this is done prior to your appointment to allow your appointment time to be used as efficiently as possible.
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Yes, skin tag removal is available. This is completed under local anaesthetic (numbing injection).
If you are interested in this service, please contact us to enquire at reception@skinscreen.co.nz
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At SkinScreen West Coast, we believe everyone deserves easy access to skin checks, treatment, and advice.
Our clinic is easily accessible by wheelchair.
Off-street parking is available directly outside the clinic, and there is a gentle ramp which allows access to the main entrance.
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We recognise that it can be very stressful waiting for a suspected skin cancer to be treated, and we always endeavour to complete proposed treatments as soon as possible.
Many suspected skin cancers can be treated with topical (cream-based) treatments, or liquid nitrogen cryotherapy. These treatments will usually be completed on the same day as your skin check.
If a surgical procedure has been recommended then we will aim to complete this at the earliest available opportunity. If there is any suspicion of melanoma then your treatment will be prioritised, and we will arrange this as quickly as possible.
We aim to remove suspected melanomas within two weeks.
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All of our procedures are done using a local anaesthetic (numbing injection).
It is common to experience some stinging pain during injection of the local anaesthetic. We take steps to make this as comfortable as possible in order to minimise any pain or discomfort.
Once the anaesthetic injection is completed, you should not feel any pain or discomfort during the procedure itself. If you do, please let us know so that we can repeat the anaesthetic injection to ensure that the procedure is pain-free.
Once the anaesthetic wears off (usually a few hours after your procedure) it is common to experience some pain around the wound itself. We recommend that you use simple painkillers (e.g. paracetamol and/or ibuprofen if this is safe for you to take), as required.
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After your surgery, you will be provided with a handout with clear instructions regarding post-operative wound care.
If there are any complications following your surgery, please contact the clinic via phone or email. If there are any significant issues, then we will arrange to see you for review.
All excised tissue is sent for histology, where it is examined carefully under a microscope by a pathologist. We will then receive a report which explains the precise diagnosis. This process usually takes 2-3 weeks. We will contact you once your results are available to discuss them with you.
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For most people, an annual full body skin check by a doctor with specialist skin cancer training is recommended. If you have any additional risk factors then more frequent checks may be necessary. This will be discussed with you during your skin check appointment.
Risk factors include:
If you’ve ever been diagnosed with any form of skin cancer
If you have fair skin
If there a history of melanoma in your family
If you have an outdoor occupation
If you have a high number of moles
80% of melanomas are first spotted by you or a family member. In addition to an annual full body skin check, we also recommend monthly self skin checks at home.
Melanoma New Zealand has produced a helpful video guide, available here:
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Your risk of developing skin cancer increases as you get older; however, skin cancer can develop at any age.
If you have risk factors for developing skin cancer, you should consider booking an annual skin check from your 20s onwards.
Risk factors include:
Fair skin (red or blonde hair and skin that always burns in the sun)
Personal or family history of any type of skin cancer
If you have more than 100 moles
If you are immunosuppressed
Having an outdoor job or hobbies
There is no minimum age to have a skin check, and at SkinScreen West Coast we are happy to see anyone, including children.
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Of course - we are happy to see children for skin checks.
Skin cancer is extremely rare in children; however it does happen. For this reason, we don’t usually recommend regular full skin checks for children unless there are particularly strong risk factors for skin cancer.
Most harmless moles (naevi) develop in childhood, and it is therefore normal for new moles to appear on your child’s skin. However, if you notice a new mole that you are concerned about, or that you think looks unusual, then we recommend that you bring them in for a ‘Short Check’ appointment so that it can be thoroughly assessed.
If there are any concerns, we may recommend surgical removal; however, often in children we instead monitor abnormal looking moles over time using serial digital dermatoscopy to carefully assess for any signs of skin cancer.
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SkinScreen West Coast is a dedicated skin cancer clinic and our focus is therefore on the early detection and treatment of suspected skin cancers.
We may be able to remove some benign (harmless) moles for cosmetic purposes. However, if you want to achieve the best possible cosmetic outcome, we recommend that you consider contacting a dedicated cosmetic clinic.