A full body skin exam is a systematic, head-to-toe visual check of your entire skin surface, including areas you cannot see yourself, to find moles and lesions that may need closer attention.
Most exams take 15 to 30 minutes, you wear a gown with draping, and you can usually book one in Ontario without a dermatologist referral.
TL;DR
- What it is → a structured check of every part of your skin, not just the one spot worrying you
- How long → often 15 to 30 minutes, longer if you have many moles
- What you wear → a gown, with draping. Underwear typically stays on
- What we check → scalp, ears, back, nail beds, between the toes, and sun-exposed areas
- Ontario access and cost → no referral needed, private-pay, $695 + HST per session, currently $495 + HST for the first 20 clients
What Is a Full Body Skin Exam?
A full body skin exam is a clinician-led inspection of your whole skin surface, done in a set order so no area gets skipped.
Clinicians use their eyes first, then a dermatoscope to magnify anything that looks unusual.
The value comes from the method, not the equipment. Checking in a fixed sequence means the scalp, the back of the ears and the spaces between the toes get the same attention as an obvious spot on the forearm.
Full body skin exam, total body skin exam, or full body skin check?
These three names describe the same appointment. Clinics use different wording, and it can make
What your clinician looks for
We look for change and for anything that behaves differently from your other moles.
- Moles that differ in shape, border, colour or size from your usual pattern
- Atypical moles, sometimes called a dysplastic nevus
- Rough, scaly or crusted patches that do not heal
- Sores that bleed, weep or return after healing
- New growths that appeared in adulthood
- Features that may suggest melanoma, basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma
Why a Single Mole Check Is Not Enough
Checking one mole answers one question, while a full body exam gives you a picture of your whole skin. Most people book because of a spot they can see, and the spots they cannot see are the reason clinicians recommend the full assessment.
The places you cannot see on yourself
- Scalp, especially under thick or long hair
- Behind and inside the ears
- Mid and upper back, and the backs of the shoulders
- Buttocks and the backs of the thighs
- Soles of the feet, between the toes, and under the nails
Melanoma can appear on skin that rarely sees sun
- Sun exposure raises risk, but it does not explain every case. Melanoma can develop on the soles, under a nail, or on covered skin.
- That is why a screening exam covers the whole surface rather than only sun-exposed areas.
If you want to understand what warning signs look like before your visit, our guide on signs of melanoma walks through them in plain language, and is my mole cancerous covers when a spot deserves a professional look.
What a baseline gives you that a one-off look does not
A first exam creates a reference point. At your next visit, your clinician compares against that record rather than relying on memory.
- Change over time carries more weight than appearance on a single day
- A documented baseline reduces unnecessary worry about moles that have not changed
- It also makes genuine change easier to notice early
Pro Tip: Photograph any spot you are watching on your phone with a ruler or coin beside it for scale, and note the date. Comparable photos are far more useful to a clinician than a description from memory.
What Happens During a Full Body Skin Exam, Step by Step
The appointment follows a predictable sequence, and nothing happens without your consent at each stage. Knowing the order removes most of the anxiety first-time patients bring with them.
1. Intake and skin history
We start with questions, not the exam. Expect to discuss sun exposure, any history of burns or indoor tanning, family history of skin cancer, medications that affect your immune system, and the specific spots concerning you.
2. Changing into a gown
You change privately. You put on a gown, and staff use draping so only the area being examined is uncovered at any moment.
3. The head-to-toe visual pass
Your clinician works in a fixed order, usually scalp downward. This covers the face, ears, neck, torso, arms, hands, nail beds, legs, feet and between the toes.
4. Dermoscopy on anything atypical
A dermatoscope is a handheld magnifier with a light. It sits against the skin and shows structures under the surface that the naked eye misses. It does not cut, inject or hurt.
5. Documentation
- We record what we find. Some clinics photograph individual lesions so future visits have something to compare against.
- If you have many moles, your clinician may discuss whether digital mole mapping suits you better for long-term tracking.
6. Findings and next steps
You get your results in the same appointment. Your clinician explains what looks ordinary, what deserves monitoring, and whether anything needs further assessment or referral.
How Long Does a Full Body Skin Exam Take?
Most full body skin exams take 15 to 30 minutes, and the first visit usually runs longest. History taking and baseline documentation add time that follow-up visits do not need.
What makes an appointment run longer
- A high mole count, which means more lesions to assess individually
- Several atypical moles needing dermoscopy
- Extensive sun damage or multiple rough patches
- A personal history of skin cancer, which calls for closer inspection of scars and surrounding skin
Is a Full Body Skin Exam Embarrassing? What to Expect About Privacy
Most patients feel self-conscious for the first minute or two, and that feeling fades quickly once the exam starts. Clinicians perform these exams routinely, they use draping throughout, and you stay in control of the process.
What comes off and what stays on
- You remove clothing and wear a gown
- Underwear usually stays on
- Only the region being examined gets uncovered, one area at a time
- You can ask to be re-covered at any point
Are private areas examined?
Standard practice is to examine skin, not to perform a genital examination. Clinicians commonly check the buttocks and the skin folds near the groin because lesions can appear there, and they will explain and ask before examining any sensitive region.
If you would rather skip a specific area, say so. Your clinician will note it and explain what the exam does not then cover.
Can you ask for a chaperone or a same-gender clinician?
Yes, and asking is normal. Requests like these are routine in Canadian clinical practice, not unusual.
- Ask when you book so the clinic can arrange it
- You may bring a support person if the clinic permits it. [Confirm Pinkal Medical Aesthetics chaperone and support-person policy]
- Pinkal Medical Aesthetics operates as a nurse practitioner-led clinic, which some patients find a less clinical and more conversational setting for a first skin check
Pro Tip: Write your questions and concerns on your phone before the appointment. Anxiety makes people forget the spot they came in about, and a short list keeps the visit focused.
How to Prepare for Your Full Body Skin Check
Simple preparation makes the exam faster and more accurate, because anything covering your skin hides what we need to see. None of it requires effort the day before.
What to do before you arrive
- Remove nail polish from your fingers and toes, since melanoma can appear under a nail
- Skip makeup, or expect to remove it for the facial check
- Avoid self-tanner and spray tans in the days before your visit
- Take out braids, wigs or extensions if you can, or tie hair loosely so the scalp is accessible
- Wear clothing that is easy to change out of
- Bring a list of the spots concerning you, with dated photos if you have them
What you do not need to do
- You do not need to shave
- You do not need to fast
- You do not need a referral at a private clinic in Ontario
Who Needs a Full Body Skin Exam, and How Often?
Screening intervals depend on your personal risk, not a single universal rule. Your clinician sets your interval after assessing your history, and a first exam is where that assessment starts.
Prior skin cancer, atypical mole syndrome, strong family history, immunosuppression
More frequent exams, often with photographic tracking
Risk factors that may shorten your interval
- Fair skin that burns easily, light eyes, red or blond hair
- A high mole count, or several atypical moles
- Blistering sunburns, particularly in childhood
- Any indoor tanning history
- A first-degree relative with melanoma
- Immunosuppressive medication or an organ transplant
- Significant outdoor work or sport exposure
There is no fixed starting age for everyone. Many adults begin once they notice changing moles or learn of a family history. Our guide on how often you should get your moles checked covers interval planning in more depth.
Full Body Skin Exam vs. Mole Mapping vs. Dermatologist Visit
A full body skin exam suits a first screening, mole mapping suits long-term tracking of many moles, and a dermatologist visit suits diagnosed conditions and treatment. They solve different problems, so comparing them on price alone misleads.
To go deeper on the technology side, see what is mole mapping and how digital mole mapping works. For the trade-offs between routes, read mole mapping vs. dermatologist in Ontario.
What Happens If Something Suspicious Is Found?
Most findings lead to monitoring rather than immediate biopsy, and your clinician explains the reasoning before you leave. Understanding the possible outcomes ahead of time removes the fear of the unknown.
The realistic range of outcomes
- Ordinary and no action needed. The majority of moles fall here.
- Monitor and recheck. A lesion looks slightly unusual but not concerning enough to remove. A recheck in roughly three months compares it against today.
- Photographic or dermoscopic tracking. Useful when you have several atypical moles, and often the point where mole mapping becomes the better tool. Our page on what a dysplastic nevus is explains this category.
- Referral for biopsy. If features suggest a lesion needs pathology, your clinician arranges the appropriate referral.
A recheck request is not bad news. It reflects careful practice, since comparison over time distinguishes a stable mole from a changing one more reliably than a single look.
Book an in-person assessment sooner, and do not wait for a scheduled screening, if you notice
- A mole changing in size, shape or colour over weeks
- Bleeding, oozing or crusting that keeps returning
- Persistent itching, tenderness or pain in one spot
- A sore that has not healed in several weeks
- A new dark line or band under a fingernail or toenail
How Much Does a Full Body Skin Exam Cost in Ontario?
Whole-body skin screening at a private Ontario clinic is a private-pay service, and OHIP does not cover it.
At Pinkal Medical Aesthetics, a Mole Mapping and Digital Skin Imaging session is $695 plus HST, with an introductory offer of $200 off for the first 20 clients, bringing it to $495 plus HST.
Fees at a glance
Is a full body skin exam covered by OHIP?
No, whole-body screening at a private clinic is not covered by OHIP. OHIP may cover assessment of a specific concerning lesion through your family physician or a referred specialist, but preventive whole-skin screening sits outside that coverage.
That gap is the reason private clinics exist in this space. You pay directly, and in return you get an appointment within days rather than a referral queue measured in months.
Private insurance and health spending accounts
- Some plans reimburse part or all of a private-pay screening session, so check before you assume the full cost is out of pocket.
- Many extended health plans cover services delivered by a nurse practitioner
- Health spending accounts commonly reimburse screening fees
- Request a detailed receipt showing the provider designation, since plans differ in what they accept
Confirm with your insurer first, because coverage terms vary by policy
What the fee covers
- A full head-to-toe assessment rather than a single-lesion review
- Digital skin imaging and dermoscopy where indicated
- A documented baseline you can compare against at future visits
- Same-visit explanation of findings and recommended next steps
- Access without a referral, usually within days
Pro Tip: Ask your insurer two specific questions before booking: whether they reimburse nurse practitioner services, and whether they require a diagnostic code on the receipt. Getting both answers upfront avoids a rejected claim later.
Getting a Full Body Skin Exam in London Ontario Without a Referral
You can book a full body skin exam in London Ontario directly, without waiting for a dermatologist referral. Referral wait times are the single most common reason patients tell us they delayed a skin check.
How booking works
- Contact the clinic directly and request a full body skin exam
- Share any specific concerns when you book, so the appointment gets the right length
- Follow the preparation list above
- Expect your findings and recommended interval in the same visit
Who we see
Patients travel to London from across Southwestern Ontario, including St. Thomas, Woodstock, Strathroy, Sarnia and Middlesex County. If you are comparing options first, our overview of the best mole check clinics in London Ontario sets out what to look for, and skin cancer screening in Ontario explains the provincial picture.
Why Choose Pinkal Medical Aesthetics for a Full Body Skin Exam?
At Pinkal Medical Aesthetics we run skin checks as a structured clinical assessment, not a quick glance at one mole. The clinic is nurse practitioner-led and founded by Pinkal Gandhi, and appointments prioritise time, explanation and consent.
- Direct access. No dermatologist referral required.
- Systematic method. A fixed head-to-toe sequence, with dermoscopy where indicated.
- Privacy handled properly. Draping throughout, clear consent, and you can decline any area.
- Plain explanation. You leave understanding what we found, what we are monitoring, and why.
- Local to London Ontario. Serving patients across Southwestern Ontario.
Nurse practitioners in Ontario assess skin lesions, order investigations and refer within their scope of practice. If a finding needs specialist care, we arrange the appropriate referral rather than delaying it.
Ready to book? A Mole Mapping and Digital Skin Imaging session at Pinkal Medical Aesthetics in London Ontario is $695 plus HST, with the first 20 clients saving $200 at $495 plus HST. Payment is due at booking, no referral is needed, and you can see full details on our mole mapping service page.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long does a full body skin exam take?
Most exams take 15 to 30 minutes. First appointments run longer because they include your full skin history and baseline documentation.
2. Do I have to get completely undressed?
No. You change into a gown, underwear typically stays on, and staff drape you so only the area being examined is uncovered at a time.
3. Is a full body skin exam covered by OHIP?
No. Private whole-body screening is a private-pay service. At Pinkal Medical Aesthetics a Mole Mapping and Digital Skin Imaging session is $695 plus HST, currently $495 plus HST for the first 20 clients.
4. How often should I get a full body skin exam?
It depends on your risk. Many people at elevated risk are seen yearly, while those with prior skin cancer or atypical moles may need more frequent visits.
5. Can a nurse practitioner perform a full body skin exam?
Yes. Nurse practitioners in Ontario assess skin lesions, order investigations and refer within their scope of practice, and they arrange specialist referral when a finding requires it.
The Bottom Line
A full body skin exam removes guesswork about skin you cannot see, and it takes less time than most people expect. It does not diagnose skin cancer on its own, and suitability and interval both depend on a clinical consultation.
If you have a mole that has changed, a family history of melanoma, or you have simply never had your skin checked properly, book an in-person assessment rather than watching and waiting.
This article provides general information and does not replace medical advice. Please seek an in-person assessment for any specific concern.