The most important facts in brief
 
 Technical term: skin cancer screening
 Type of anesthesia: none
 Duration of the procedure (treatment time): approx. 15 minutes
 Hospital stay: outpatient
 Fit for social contacts: immediately
 Fit for work: immediately
 Rest period: none
 
 What are the causes of skin cancer?
 
 Skin cancer is often caused by excessive UV radiation, for example sunbathing or visits to a solarium. But it's not just the sun that plays a role, genetic predispositions can also significantly increase the risk of developing skin cancer. People with many pigment spots (moles) have an increased risk of developing skin cancer. Particular caution is required for people who already have melanoma or other types of skin cancer or who have a family history of skin cancer. Severe sunburns in childhood or adolescence can also significantly increase the risk. In these cases, regular skin cancer screening is particularly important.

 

What types of skin cancer are there?
 
 There are different forms of skin cancer, which are characterized by different features:
 
 Basal cell carcinoma (white skin cancer):
 The most common form of skin cancer, often appearing as a shiny nodule on the skin. Although basal cell carcinoma rarely metastasizes, without treatment it can invade deeper layers of the skin and damage the surrounding tissue.
 
 Squamous cell carcinoma (white skin cancer):
 This skin cancer often appears as scaly, rough patches or sores that do not heal. Squamous cell carcinoma can spread more quickly than basal cell carcinoma and should be treated early.
 
 Malignant melanoma (black skin cancer):
 The most aggressive form of skin cancer, originating from the pigment-forming cells of the skin. Melanoma can grow rapidly and spread to other organs at an early stage. Timely diagnosis is life-saving here, as the chances of recovery are significantly better if melanoma is detected early.
 

Costs
 
 Skin cancer screening with a very bright lamp (without an incident light microscope) is generally covered by all statutory health insurance companies from the age of 35. Screening is also advisable for younger people, but is not covered by all health insurance companies. Some skin cancer screening examinations, such as those using an incident light microscope, go beyond the statutory benefits catalog, but are still covered by many health insurance companies. You should discuss this with your health insurance provider in advance. If the services are not covered, we will be happy to advise you on the scope and necessity of the examinations and the costs incurred.

 

Why is early detection so important?
 
 Early detection of skin cancer is extremely important as most forms of skin cancer are easily treatable if detected early. Many forms of skin cancer develop slowly and initially show no recognizable symptoms. In the early stages, malignant changes can often be removed using simple and minimally invasive methods without major complications. However, if skin cancer is discovered late, the risk of the disease spreading and requiring more complex treatment increases. Regular skin checks make it possible to detect even the smallest changes and take appropriate measures immediately. This can significantly improve the chances of recovery.
 Even if previous findings were inconspicuous, screening should be carried out at a young age approximately every two years. In principle, however, your personal risk profile determines how often skin cancer screening should be carried out. This means that the screening intervals depend on your age, skin type and, in particular, the type and number of moles.

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Skin cancer examination at the Prof. Braun | skin cancer institute
 
 At our clinic in Zurich, we use state-of-the-art technology and comprehensive diagnostic procedures to detect skin cancer at an early stage. Skin cancer screening includes various methods that are individually tailored to you:
 
 Clinical examination
 Our experienced dermatologists begin the check-up with a thorough visual assessment of the skin. The entire skin surface is examined for conspicuous skin changes, moles or lesions. Particular attention is paid to areas of skin that are frequently exposed to the sun, as skin cancer is more likely to develop there. This clinical examination is the first step in recognizing signs of skin cancer and, if necessary, initiating further diagnostic steps.

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 Dermatoscopic examination
 An important instrument in skin cancer screening is the dermatoscope (reflected light microscope). With this special magnifying device, we can analyze skin changes and pigment spots down to the smallest detail. This enables us to recognize the skin structure beneath the surface and distinguish suspicious from harmless moles as well as detect malignant changes at an early stage. The dermatoscopic examination makes it possible to recognize microscopic signs that are not visible to the eye.

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Digital dermatoscopic follow-up examination (mole check)

The digital follow-up examination is a valuable tool for patients with many moles or an increased risk of skin cancer. Every skin change is digitally recorded and saved. At follow-up appointments, we can compare the images with each other. This enables particularly accurate monitoring of risk abnormalities and timely intervention in the event of abnormalities. Digital dermatoscopic aftercare gives you additional security, as changes are continuously documented and monitored.

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 Full body imaging with the Canfield VECTRA 3D full body scanner for skin cancer
 This state-of-the-art 3D imaging system captures your entire skin surface in a single image. The VECTRA 3D scanner creates a detailed 3D body map of your skin, revealing even the smallest pigmentations and skin changes in the highest resolution. The built-in artificial intelligence analyzes the images and compares them with previous images to automatically detect changes in the skin's appearance. This technology enables seamless monitoring and helps to detect even the smallest anomalies at an early stage.

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Your safety comes first
 
 Comprehensive skin cancer screening at the utoquai clinic in Zurich offers you maximum safety. Regular examinations enable us to detect skin cancer at a very early stage and take appropriate measures immediately. This significantly improves the chances of recovery and helps to avoid invasive procedures.
 
 Have you noticed a noticeable change in your skin or do you just want to be on the safe side? Make an appointment with us today and benefit from our many years of experience and state-of-the-art technology.