Can you get to a specialist w/o a referral? I have a mole removed in a GP's office and my children had many warts frozen by our family doctor.

Good call.

For questionable moles, see the dermatologist right away; Don't wait. If its nothing, fine, but if it is cancerous, the sooner it is attended to, the better. If cancerous, waiting can make it a much bigger problem. In its early stages when its small, it probably can be handled by freezing or simple small excision. Later on, its a much larger problem.

If your insurance covers self-referral, I'd do that. Assuming you can get a quick appointment. If you mention a suspicious spot, that might get you in faster as they tend to take it seriously.

But I agree with mdln that a doctor referral might get you in faster if there's a long wait.

I love hearing about all the mnemonics and aides-memoir that physicians are taught, as per mdln's comment.

I had something which had none of the a-e signs, yet it was basal cell carcinoma. So for many of us, regular screenings at the derm are wise.

i vote for the derm. It’s good to have a doctor who has looked at a lot of skin issues.

We can go straight to a dermatologist...the mole in question is one that has always been odd shape..meaning not a typical dot/round/flat mole. It looks a little bigger than I remember it, so I figure it can't hurt to get it looked at.

Yes, better to err on the safe side.

@ socks, the abc... is for detecting melanoma.

Except there are always exceptions to what various skin cancers look like. Worked with a man who had melanoma areas taken off of his face and the patches just looked like a large two inch irregular freckle that kept getting larger. It is always better to have things looked at and I would opt for the dermatologist if possible. However even they do not always diagnose correctly as things do show up in a biopsy that are not apparent by just looking.

The melanoma I had on my upper arm was not visible to me. The PA found it during a full body exam I had every year (because of a history of basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas) and a biopsy was done. It certainly didn’t resemble any photo I’d ever seen. Don’t rely on one looking similar. If you are suspicious, GET IT CHECKED.

mdln...I did not know that! Thank you.

@ maifleur, "melanoma areas taken off of his face and the patches just looked like a LARGE TWO INCH (Diameter), IRREGULAR (Border), freckle that KEPT GETTING LARGER (Evolving)."

That is 3 of the 5 indicators; if even one is present, it should be evaluated. We don't wait until a patient has every symptom to test for/treat a disease.

Many, maybe most, primary care docs would just refer you to the dermatologist anyway, so I would just go straight to the derm.