Wart Removal Questions and Skin Checks for Outdoor Workers & Sun Lovers

A skin check is a visit where a licensed clinician looks closely at your skin, often including areas you rarely see, such as the scalp, ears, back and tops of the feet. Outdoor workers and sun lovers often seek one because years of sun exposure can affect the skin. It is a routine, matter-of-fact appointment, and there is no need to feel embarrassed.

Rough, scaly or sandpaper-like patches are sometimes called actinic keratosis, a term for sun-related skin changes. Moles are common, and a mole that looks different from your others, or that changes over time, is something clinicians like to see. Warts are growths caused by a virus, but many other spots can look similar to the untrained eye.

Because so many skin spots resemble each other, you cannot reliably tell them apart yourself. A spot that is changing, bleeding, itching, irregular in shape or color, or not healing should be checked by a dermatologist for skin cancer. Please do not self-treat it, and do not use over-the-counter wart products on a spot that has not been examined.

Traditionally, skin checks have been done by a dermatologist or another licensed clinician who examines the skin by eye, often with a handheld magnifying light. Primary care providers may also look at spots and refer you on when needed. Many people schedule checks on a regular rhythm that their clinician suggests for them.

The ABCDEs of melanoma (asymmetry, border, color, diameter and evolving) are a general guide that clinicians and public health groups have long shared to encourage people to get spots looked at. They are not a way to diagnose yourself. Many spots that raise questions turn out to be harmless, and some need closer attention, which is why an exam matters.

Sun-related patches and true warts have been approached in different ways over the years, depending on what a clinician finds. Options a provider may discuss include watching a spot over time, sampling a tissue, or various in-office or prescription approaches. Over-the-counter wart products exist, but they are meant for common warts that a clinician has identified. People with diabetes, poor circulation, neuropathy or a weakened immune system should ask a provider before treating anything at home, especially on the feet. Never cut, burn or dig out a growth at home.

The right provider may help by first identifying what a spot actually is. A visit often starts with questions about your work, how much time you spend in the sun, any family history of skin concerns, and when you first noticed the spot. It helps to point out anything that has changed, itched, bled or not healed.

The clinician will usually examine the spot, and may look over the rest of your skin as well. Depending on what they see, they may recommend watching it, taking a small sample for testing, or discussing treatment options. Which of these is appropriate is a decision for the clinician after an evaluation, and results vary. Warts can return even after they are treated.

Useful questions to ask include: What do you think this spot is? Does it need testing? How often should I have skin checks given my outdoor work? What should I watch for between visits? How can I protect my skin on the job? If a prescription product is suggested, ask about its current FDA status and whether it is right for you.