How often do you get skin checks here?

[BLMFem]

4 minutes ago, xylophone said:

Well I don't really go out in the sun much at all, however riding my scooter around has obviously resulted in the solar keratosis on my hands, so I should remind myself to put some suncream on whenever I go out on the scooter.

I did ask the doctor about the basal cell carcinoma on my face and he said that some of the sun damage I had could well be as a result of exposure to the sun decades ago, so quite possibly in my days working in the desert – – something I never considered, but as I said previously, there was no such thing as "suncream" back then, or not that I had heard of anyway!

The damage to the skin that sometimes results in BCC and other nastier stuff builds up over time, and it's impossible to predict whether or where it might show up next, although most likely it will be in areas that have had a lot of exposure. That's what the Drs told me anyway.

 

[Magictoad]

1 hour ago, Nemises said:

Cheaper (for some) to return to their homeland (whilst visiting family, friends etc) for free skin checks and free subsequent treatment. 

Where,?

[dutch boy]

I get checked more than a few times per year as I do not trust most Dermatologists. I have had blond hair most of my life and very fair skin. Last November I was diagnosed with Melanoma cancer on my right tricep after a biopsy was performed. Another Dermatologist earlier just froze it and said just to watch it. After the Melanoma diagnosis, I had surgery on the cancer area and I was shocked at the size of the scar, almost three inches. My surgeon told me he had to remove part of my tricep muscle to get down to all the cancer area. So yes, it is a very good idea to see a good Dermatologist regularly. 

[short-Timer]

I wonder if they do screening for this at Bangkok Christian Hospital. The dermatology department there isn't expensive compared to other private hospitals. I wonder if they can do a routine scan there. 

[hotandsticky]

55 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

I think this is more to do with a lack of vitamin d riçh foods available.

 

 

Sun exposure is the best source of vitamin D

[msbkk]

1 hour ago, BLMFem said:

I've had a couple of cases of BCC (Basal Cell Carcionoma) and the biopsy and treatment was done in Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, and even though my insurance paid for it I think the bill was something like 5-6000 Baht for biopsy and treatment. It was definitively nothing close to the 22k you paid.

 

I am of course much more vigilant now and have the Mrs check regularly in areas I can't observe, and at least once a year I heads to the dermatologist for a thorough check-up.

Biopsies usually cost around 10,000 Baht.

[BLMFem]

Just now, msbkk said:

Biopsies usually cost around 10,000 Baht.

Ok, might have not been shown the total cost due to the insurance company picking up the bill.

[msbkk]

17 minutes ago, short-Timer said:

I wonder if they do screening for this at Bangkok Christian Hospital. The dermatology department there isn't expensive compared to other private hospitals. I wonder if they can do a routine scan there. 

What you need is a dermatologist who has knowledge about skin cancer. Not every dermatologist has this knowledge. Especially because skin cancer is a farang problem Thais do normally not get it. Their skin is better for tropical sun exposure even they avoid the sun.

[blaze master]

49 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

Sun exposure is the best source of vitamin D

 

No argument about that but its not the only way right. If done right you can balance.

[bunnydrops]

4 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Every 3 or 4 months.  Have had several Basil cell and Squamous.

 

22,000 seems quite high for a biopsy.

Agree, a friend of mine had one done in a KK private hospital for 17,000 3 months ago.

[Nemises]

2 hours ago, Magictoad said:

Where,?

Google is your friend 

 

 

 

[short-Timer]

5 hours ago, msbkk said:

What you need is a dermatologist who has knowledge about skin cancer. Not every dermatologist has this knowledge. Especially because skin cancer is a farang problem Thais do normally not get it. Their skin is better for tropical sun exposure even they avoid the sun.

Thanks. I'll have a look on their website. They have a number of dermatologist in the skin department. I'll see if any of them list a specialization in skin cancer.

[hotandsticky]

6 hours ago, blaze master said:

 

No argument about that but its not the only way right. If done right you can balance.

 

 

I certainly agree with that

[TedG]

 

8 hours ago, xylophone said:

Well I don't really go out in the sun much at all, however riding my scooter around has obviously resulted in the solar keratosis on my hands, so I should remind myself to put some suncream on whenever I go out on the scooter.

I did ask the doctor about the basal cell carcinoma on my face and he said that some of the sun damage I had could well be as a result of exposure to the sun decades ago, so quite possibly in my days working in the desert – – something I never considered, but as I said previously, there was no such thing as "suncream" back then, or not that I had heard of anyway!

 

Wear ridding glove.  Gloves will protect your hands from the sun and the crash. 

[quake]

13 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

Does it work on genital warts?

(asking for a friend....)

 

Get your mate ( cough cough ) one of these.

But don't miss, as it could make you  part of transgender community  very quickly.

 

[hotandsticky]

30 minutes ago, quake said:

 

Get your mate ( cough cough ) one of these.

But don't miss, as it could make you  part of transgender community  very quickly.

 

 

 

I think I he will leave it to the professionals.

 

He said that the skin doctor at Pattaya Memorial is very good.

[JimHuaHin]

I am almost 70 years young; I have been having 6-monthly skin check-ups since I was 45.

 

So far no major problems, just a few small BCCs.

[srowndedbyh2o]

14 hours ago, BLMFem said:

Ok, might have not been shown the total cost due to the insurance company picking up the bill.

At the begging of April of this year I had a skin cancer checkup at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya. I had only one spot of real concern to the Doctor and she did a punch biopsy of the site on my forehead.

Total cost 15,260 Baht.

Luckily when I did my followup check she said there was no sign of cancer. She removed the stitches, cleaned and bandaged the site, said “No charge”, and sent me on my way.

[LatPhrao]

Those prices for Dermatology are very high.  Have had exams, Nitrous, Biopsies, excisions here multiple times costing 1,500 to 3,000 thb depending the treatment.

Institute of Dermatology- · Dermatologists

456 Ratchawithi Rd · 02 354 5222  Bangkok

9th floor   Making an appointment begins 4 p.m.

It is a couple of hundred metres from Victory Monument skytrain station.  Walk along Ratchawithi Road, passing Rajavithi hospital, the Institute of Dermatology, and the Children's hospital. Approx 10 mins walk from the BTS.

[xylophone]

13 hours ago, TedG said:

 

 

Wear ridding glove.  Gloves will protect your hands from the sun and the crash. 

I have finally found some suitable gloves, with long sleeves and have ordered them online.....thanks for the prompt.

[Sheryl]

On 6/22/2025 at 5:03 PM, Nemises said:

Cheaper (for some) to return to their homeland (whilst visiting family, friends etc) for free skin checks and free subsequent treatment. 

this is what IO do.

 

It is very difficult to get a meaningful skin check in Thailand. Even the government Derm Institute  in Bangkok - the best place to go for skin cancer treatment - does to really offer preventic screening.   A few of the "international" private hospitals offer it but one cannot be sure of the skill of the doctor doing it, there is limited experience with skin cancer here.

 

The problem with DIY is that one can't see one's back. 

[xylophone]

Update from my original post.......on Friday I had the stitches removed and the wound cleaned and then covered and was told to keep it dry for two days at least. So I did and today I took off the small sticky plasters and I've got to say that I can hardly see the scar, in fact it doesn't look like a scar, such was the skill of the plastic surgeon, so I take my hat off to the man.

[srowndedbyh2o]

16 hours ago, Sheryl said:

It is very difficult to get a meaningful skin check in Thailand. Even the government Derm Institute  in Bangkok - the best place to go for skin cancer treatment - does to really offer preventic screening.   A few of the "international" private hospitals offer it but one cannot be sure of the skill of the doctor doing it, there is limited experience with skin cancer here.

At your suggestion I went to see Dr. Anna Jaruwarn at BKK Hospital Pattaya where she did a full-body visual checkup, and punch biopsy of a suspect site on my forehead. She is very knowledgeable, and speaks excellent English. (I think she worked in the U.S. for many years) I am very confident in the service she provided and will be doing annual checkups with her. While BKK Hospital Pattaya is relatively expensive (BHT 15,260), I submitted a claim with my U.S. based insurance and they paid for all but a small copay of about BHT 1,200.

[thaiowl]

Over the past couple of years, I've had 4 basal cell carcinomas excised and am treating one on my my nose with Aldara cream. I've also had lots of actinic keratosis spots burned off. I go to the dermatologist every 6 months and also apply SPF 50+ cream every morning and every time I go out on my bike (which is most days). When I'm biking, I wear a mask, a broad-rimmed hat, UV-protection long-sleeved cycling shirt and gloves. 

[blazes]

My derm (in Canada) about 10 yrs ago suggested I take NIACINAMIDE.  Researchers in Australia had announced that niacinamide was effective in resisting BCCs.  

I had had many BCCs over the years and my lack of them in the last decade would suggest that niacinamide did indeed work.

Also, keeping out of the sun is (obvs) the most effective form of resistance!

[petertucker48]

I'm 77 years British  living 20 years in Thailand.

Problem nose peeling front area only for 2 years.

Apply an over the counter gel ointment Mecylic.

Any ideas?

[motdaeng]

21 minutes ago, thaiowl said:

... When I'm biking, I wear a mask, a broad-rimmed hat, UV-protection long-sleeved cycling shirt and gloves. 

 

where in thailand can you buy real uv-protective clothing, not fake ones?

 

[vincent13]

The prices stated above sound hugely expensive. I have had many BCCs biopsied then removed and never paid more than 6000 baht. Dr Vachiraporn at Chiang Mai Ram hospital is highly skilled in dealing with skin cancers (tarined in the US) and her fees are very reasonable. Due to large number of keratosis and BCCs I have had treated over the last 30 years or so I currently have 6 monthly checkups with Dr Vachiraporn.

[Globalres]

On 6/22/2025 at 6:14 PM, blaze master said:

 

I think this is more to do with a lack of vitamin d riçh foods available.

No it’s not.  You get very little D3 from food.  The human body (just like plants, actually, needs sunlight and cholesterol to get usable D vitamin. The worst skin cancer, melanoma, is often found on the body where the sun doesn’t reach.

[Tedly]

On 6/22/2025 at 4:32 AM, scubascuba3 said:

Not been but did apply aldara 5% cream which beautifully destroyed an ify spot i had on my face, hospitals would have probably lasered or burned it off for thousands

 I've never heard of aldara 5% cream, would that work on skin tags, I think I need to try to find it somewhere. Thanks for the info. I try to avoid doctors if possible.