COVID – 19 Do I need to alter my skin cancer management?

As of August, 2021, ACCO recommends: 

1. 1. Limit skin cancer checks to patients with a past history of skin cancer or marked actinic damage.
   2. Using gloves and hand washing is essential before and after each skin check.
   3. Polarised dermoscopy allows no contact between patient and instrument. This can be an advantage in these situations.
   4. Delay procedures to manage minor lesions and indolent skin cancers including SCC in situ and superficial BCCs.
   5. Surgery for wide local excision of melanoma, invasive SCC, or other BCCs should not be delayed on this basis alone.
   6. Consider reception triaging patients need for skin checks. Low risk patients can be asked to book at a later date.
   7. Any patient unwell with upper respiratory symptoms and / or fever should have a skin check deferred and should be advised to contact their local GP for advice on COVID testing, as guidelines vary between states.