I want to stress to anyone going to Charlotte Skin & Laser - DO NOT GO HERE FOR AN ACTUAL SKIN CHECK OR ANNUAL EXAM. This is primarily a cosmetic dermatologist. I see a place for cosmetic dermatology in the world, but I feel it's incredibly irresponsible of this practice to state that they actually do annual skin checks for skin cancer prevention.
It's taken me a while to write this post. I went to Charlotte Skin & Laser for an annual skin check. I have very pale skin and a history of skin cancer in my family. She spent maybe 60 seconds looking over me - the SHORTEST time anyone has. It would seriously take me longer to actually look at only my arm, as I have many freckles and moles. She said everything looked fine.
Three months later, I was diagnosed with Stage 3A Metastatic Melanoma, which means it had spread from a mole on my calf to my lymph node. I had 3 surgeries, and 6 months of an aggressive and high-side effect immunotherapy. Thank goodness I am No Evidence of Disease for 6 months now, thankfully to my amazing dermatology team and oncology team at Levine Cancer Institute.
I contacted the general manager of Charlotte Skin and Laser. He was less than helpful, unresponsive, and rude. I don't have any issues with their cosmetic approach. I do, however, have a GREAT issue with their "skin cancer prevention" and "annual skin check" approach. It is incredibly irresponsible of a medical professional, who has been educated on and knows the risks of skin cancers, to do a skin check on anyone in 60 seconds or less. I do not know how they can do that in good conscience. I pray that there are not other stories like mine.
Overall, if you need botox or some other cosmetic type of skin treatment, this is probably your place. If you are looking at getting an annual skin check, please go ANYWHERE else. This practice is incredibly irresponsible and it's a shame they can even call themselves "dermatologists."
The correct thing for them to do, would be to refer patients who are looking for an actual skin exam to another dermatologist who will actually spend the time to do that.