Should I go to a dermatologist if I don't have a skin problem?

Most people don't get regular skin checks, and most don't take dermatological checkups as seriously as their yearly trip to the gynecologist or the dentist, even though they are equally important to your overall health. In 2004, the American Cancer Society found that just 20 percent of women surveyed had annual skin cancer screenings. That percentage was lower than the rate of participation in annual screenings for other types of cancer, such as yearly mammography for breast cancer. Another study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, found that only 15 percent of U.S. outdoor workers (those in construction, fishing, farming, and forestry) ever had a skin examination during their lifetimes. Not only do people in high-risk sun exposure occupations fail to get screened, but so do people who should know better. Few people see a dermatologist regularly unless they have acne or some other chronic skin condition. It is always better to get checked out so we can spot a problem before it becomes more dangerous.