Dermatological examination – summary
| What does it include | Consultation, examination of the skin, hair, nails and mucous membranes, including moles where necessary, and a treatment plan |
|---|---|
| Duration | Usually 20–30 minutes, depending on the reason for the visit and additional diagnostics |
| Examination methods | With the naked eye, a light source, a magnifying glass, a dermatoscope or a digital dermatoscope |
| Further analyses | Microbiological and laboratory analyses or skin biopsy as necessary |
| Pain | Painless examination |
| Preparation | No special preparation is required; please bring previous test results |
When to book a dermatology appointment?
You can consult a dermatologist for new changes or symptoms that persist, recur, or worsen. Reasons for an examination may include:
- acne and other inflammatory changes;
- facial redness, rash, itching or flaking of the skin;
- new mole or change to an existing one, with mole check;
- pigmentation and skin colour changes;
- warts, papillomas and other growths, such as atheroma;
- raised scars, including keloids and hypertrophic scars;
- increased hair loss or changes to the scalp;
- changes in the appearance and structure of the nails.
An examination also makes sense when you have no symptoms: for an annual mole check, if you have many moles or a family history of melanoma, to monitor a previously diagnosed condition or new treatment, to assess a lesion you wish to remove, and before an aesthetic treatment.
When not to delay a check-up
See a dermatologist as soon as possible if you notice:
- a mole that is growing, changing shape or colour, itching, bleeding or weeping;
- a wound or scab that does not heal for more than a month;
- sudden and excessive hair loss or bald patches with distinct edges;
- dark stripe that has appeared under the nail or a nail change that is spreading;
- any change to the genital organs, painful or painless.
A rash accompanied by facial swelling, a high temperature or difficulty breathing is not a reason to book an appointment, but rather a medical emergency.
The ABCDE rule is used for self-monitoring of moles: A – asymmetry, B - irregular edge, C – multiple shades of colour in the same change, D - diameter greater than 6 mm and E – change over time. The most important thing is the last letter: a mole that changes should be shown to a doctor even when it is small. Self-monitoring helps you to react in time, but it does not replace a dermoscopic examination.
What does a dermatological examination look like?
1. Discussion about ailments
The doctor will ask you when the changes occurred, how they developed, what preparations or medicines you are using, and whether you have had similar problems before.
2. Examination of the skin, hair or nails
The scope of the examination is adapted to the reason for the visit and the findings. If further assessment is needed, the doctor may recommend a dermoscopic examination of moles, digital dermoscopy with change monitoring, trichoscopy — examination of the hair and scalp or, when indicated, skin biopsy. The choice of additional diagnostics depends on the clinical findings.
3. Explanation of findings and further management plan
Following the examination, you receive an explanation of the findings and a recommendation for therapy, care, further tests or a follow-up. The plan depends on the determined condition and your individual needs.
The timing of the follow-up appointment is determined by the condition: for acute inflammatory changes, the effect of therapy is usually checked after two to four weeks; chronic conditions such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis or rosacea are monitored through regular check-ups, and moles are most commonly checked once a year. Contact us even before the scheduled appointment if the condition worsens, a new lesion appears or the therapy irritates the skin.
Dermoscopy and digital dermoscopy — what is the difference?
A dermatological examination comprises a consultation and a clinical assessment of the skin, hair or nails. Dermoscopy is an additional method by which a doctor evaluates moles and other skin lesions under magnification, allowing details that are not visible to the naked eye to be better assessed.
Images of selected lesions from digital dermoscopy are saved and compared at each follow-up examination, so even small changes in size, shape or colour can be detected in time. For this, we use the Canfield D2 digital dermatoscope. The doctor decides when such monitoring is necessary.
How to prepare for an examination?
No special preparation is required, but the examination will be quicker and more accurate if:
- come to the facial examination without make-up, and to the nail examination without polish;
- bring your previous test results – analysis results, biopsies, or discharge summaries;
- list the medicines, supplements and cosmetics you use, as well as the treatment you have already tried for this condition and for how long;
- upload a photo of the change that occurs intermittently and is not currently visible;
- for the mole check, wear clothes that are easy to remove, as the skin of the entire body is examined, including the scalp and feet.
When booking, please state the reason for your visit so that you can receive preparation instructions, if necessary. Do not change or stop your prescribed medication on your own because of the examination.
Price of a dermatological consultation
Current prices for dermatological examinations, follow-ups and additional diagnostic procedures are available in our price list of dermatological services.
If the lesion is removed during the same appointment, the consultation is not charged separately. The exception is removal using liquid nitrogen, when the consultation is charged according to the price list.
For information on which service you should book and what it includes, please contact us at 064 237 0707.
Frequently asked questions about dermatological examinations
How to choose a dermatologist in Belgrade?
It is important that the examination is performed by a specialist in dermatovenerology with experience in the field that interests you and who has the time to familiarise themselves in detail with your skin and previous therapies. A good dermatologist explains the findings, the reasons for the proposed therapy and the follow-up plan, and recommends additional analyses only when they are truly necessary.
How often should moles be checked?
A preventive mole check is recommended once a year, and more frequently for people with a large number of moles, a fair skin type or a family history of skin cancer. Any new mole or change to an existing one (size, shape, colour, bleeding or itching) should be shown to a dermatologist without delay.
For people with numerous moles or lesions that need monitoring, digital dermoscopy allows images to be compared from year to year.
When are additional analyses required?
In certain conditions, such as hormonal disorders or systemic diseases, a doctor may recommend blood and urine tests. When a bacterial, viral or fungal infection is suspected, a sample is taken from the skin, nail or hair for microbiological analysis, and in cases of suspected fungal disease, a Wood's lamp examination may also be performed.
A skin biopsy is only carried out when it is necessary to make an accurate diagnosis.
What conditions does a dermatologist treat?
A dermatologist treats acne and acne scars, rosacea, eczema and dermatitis, psoriasis, hyperpigmentation, viral and fungal skin and nail infections, as well as hair and scalp issues. It assesses and removes benign lesions such as atheroma, papilloma, warts and moles, and monitors suspicious changes or refers for further diagnostics. Thread veins on the face and legs they are removed by laser.
Therapy can be local, systemic, procedural, or combined, depending on the condition and skin type.
Is the examination painful?
No. A dermatological examination is painless and is carried out with the naked eye, a lamp, a magnifying glass or a dermatoscope. If a skin biopsy is necessary, taking a small sample is done under local anaesthetic.
How long does a dermatological examination last?
Usually 20 to 30 minutes. The examination takes longer when a larger number of moles need to be checked or when additional diagnostics are performed during the same appointment.
Does a dermatologist also examine changes on the genitals?
Yes. The specialism is called dermatovenerology because it covers diseases of the skin, hair and nails as well as sexually transmitted infections. The examination of changes on the genitals is carried out in the same way as any other, with full discretion.
How does a dermatological examination differ from a beautician's assessment?
A beauty therapist can assess the condition of the skin and recommend skincare, but they do not diagnose or prescribe treatment. A dermatologist is a medical doctor: the examination ends with a diagnosis or working hypothesis and a treatment plan, which is crucial when a skin lesion is the result of a disease rather than just a skincare issue.
Are children examined?
Yes, with a parent or guardian present. The most common reasons for children's visits are atopic dermatitis, fungal skin and scalp infections, viral warts and molluscum contagiosum, as well as mole assessment.
Can I send a photo of the lesion?
You can. A photograph of the change you want to remove (warts, keratosis, xanthelasma, hyperpigmentation, scars) send via Viber or WhatsApp to 064 237 0707 or 060 345 0304, and you will receive an estimate of the price and number of treatments. Some conditions cannot be assessed from a photograph, so a dermatological or dermoscopic examination is required for them.
Book a dermatological examination in Belgrade
The Imedic Polyclinic is located at Kneza Miloša 23 street, 2nd floor, Belgrade. Opening hours: Monday–Sunday, 9:00–21:00.
Appointments are made by phone: 064 237 0707. If you contact us from abroad, we are also available via Viber and WhatsApp on the same number.
Author: Dr Ivica Jeremić
Doctor of Medical Sciences (Molecular Medicine and Immunology), subspecialist in rheumatology, dermatology resident.
Updated:
Expert sources
- American Academy of Dermatology What to look for: ABCDEs of melanoma
- American Academy of Dermatology How to perform a skin self-exam
