Your skin is your body’s largest organ, yet it’s often one of the easiest to overlook, especially if you don’t have easy access to a dermatologist. The Skin Cancer Foundation reports that skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S., with approximately one in five Americans developing skin cancer by the age of 70.
But caring for your skin is about more than treating skin cancer—it’s also about prevention, early detection and access to care. That’s the focus of World Skin Health Day, an annual initiative held on July 8 and led by the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) and the International Society of Dermatology (ISD). The need is significant: More than 3 billion people worldwide lack access to proper dermatological care, and 1.8 billion people are affected by skin disease.
To help close that gap, CeraVe is partnering with the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC) to provide free skin checks for uninsured and underinsured patients, along with dermatology education resources and training opportunities designed to strengthen care in underserved communities.
Here’s everything to know about the initiative.
What to Know About the Free Skin Checks
During the free screenings, “patients will receive a non-invasive, visual screening where a dermatologist carefully examines the skin—often looking for early signs of skin conditions, unusual moles or atypical lesions,” says Gene Colón, Esq., global senior vice president of Medical Affairs & Communications for CeraVe DMI at L’Oréal. “Beyond the physical check, it’s an opportunity for patients to get face-to-face time to ask questions about their skin.”
It’s not just a one-and-done, either: “The goal is for each patient to walk away with a personalized, long-term plan on how to care for and monitor their skin health at home,” Colón continues. If the dermatologist identifies anything that requires follow-up care, the clinic will also organize the next steps directly with each patient.
How to Find a Free Skin Check
As part of World Skin Health Day on July 8, qualifying patients can receive complimentary skin screenings at participating NAFC clinics, including Cliffside Park, NJ; Dallas, TX and Orange, CA, with additional support continuing year-round.
Patients can visit CeraVeForWorldSkinHealth.com to locate a participating clinic, determine eligibility and schedule an appointment.
