{"id":4869,"date":"2026-01-20T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ksdm.com.au\/medical\/how-often-should-you-get-a-skin-check\/"},"modified":"2026-01-20T09:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T22:00:00","slug":"how-often-should-you-get-a-skin-check","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ksdm.com.au\/medical\/how-often-should-you-get-a-skin-check\/","title":{"rendered":"How Often Should You Get a Skin Check in Australia?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How often you should get a skin check depends on your personal risk of skin cancer. People at high risk of melanoma are advised by healthdirect<\/a> to check their own skin every 3 months and have a full skin check with a doctor every 6 months. Everyone else should check their skin regularly, see a doctor about any new or changing spot, and ask their GP how often a professional check makes sense for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice online seems to conflict because answers like “every 3 months” and “every 1 to 2 years” describe different people and different kinds of check. This guide sorts them by risk level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self-checks and doctor checks are different things<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A self-check is you looking over your own skin, with a mirror or someone to help with your back and scalp. A professional skin check is a full examination by a doctor, often with a magnifying instrument called a dermatoscope. Self-checks catch changes between appointments; a doctor’s check catches spots you cannot see or may not recognise as suspicious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How often should you get a skin check, by risk level?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The table below sets out the general guidance. Your GP may recommend a different interval after looking at your skin and history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your situation<\/th>Check your own skin<\/th>Doctor’s full skin check<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
High risk of melanoma (see list below)<\/td>Every 3 months<\/td>Every 6 months, or as your doctor advises<\/td><\/tr>
Average risk, no new or changing spots<\/td>Regularly, as a habit<\/td>Ask your GP when to come back after a normal check<\/td><\/tr>
Any new, changing or non-healing spot<\/td>Not a wait-and-see situation<\/td>Book an appointment now, whatever your usual schedule<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The last row matters most. A scheduled check is a safety net, not a reason to sit on a spot that is changing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who counts as high risk?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to healthdirect, your risk is higher if you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n