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Living in sunny Kailua-Kona, we get to enjoy beautiful weather year-round—but with that comes a much higher UV index and a greater need to be diligent about skin health. Recently, I went in for my annual full skin check with our amazing PA Natalie—and I want to share why it was such a positive and important experience, especially since I was seven months pregnant at the time.
Pregnancy Changes the Body
During pregnancy, it’s common for the body to go through all sorts of skin changes—stretch marks, melasma, and in my case, lots of new moles. So it felt especially important to get checked out. A full skin check is a thorough, head-to-toe visual inspection to detect early signs of skin cancer and other skin concerns. The provider carefully examines every area of your skin, including often-overlooked spots like the scalp, back, and even in and around the belly button.
Catch Skin Concerns Early On
PA Natalie used a dermatoscope—a special magnifying tool—to get a close look at certain moles. She found one on my arm that she wanted to monitor, so she took a photo to compare at my next check-up. She also noticed a rough spot in my belly button that turned out to be an actinic keratosis (AK), a precancerous lesion often caused by sun exposure. She froze it right then and there. A week later, I looked down and my belly button mole was gone!
Quick yet Thorough
The whole process took about 30 minutes—it was easy and a fascinating experience. I used to work on a boat, and like many of us, I haven’t always been perfect about reapplying sunscreen. This visit was a good reminder of why that matters.
What I appreciated most was how thorough, kind, and knowledgeable PA Natalie was. She listened to my concerns, offered thoughtful recommendations, and made me feel completely at ease. She even suggested I try our Radiant Sunscreen—now I’m obsessed! It’s lightweight, but has silicone so it helps with scarring. I keep one in my car so I can re-apply on the go.
And since I was already in the office, I decided to treat myself to a Diamond Glow facial. It was the perfect combo—taking care of my health and sneaking in a little skincare indulgence.
Bottom line: If you haven’t had your skin checked in the last year, schedule it—especially if you live in Hawaii, have a history of sun exposure, or notice any changes to your skin. Trust me, it’s worth it. And if you’re pregnant? Even more reason to go. Your skin is doing all sorts of things right now, and it deserves a little extra attention.