Think skin cancer risks disappear when the temperature drops? Discover why Brisbane's year-round UV levels mean your skin needs professional care in July just as much as in January.
If your skin check habit is tied to beach season, you're not alone - and you're also missing something important. Queensland Health is direct about this: it's UV index, not temperature, that drives skin cancer risk, and Brisbane's UV sits at 3 or above on most days of the year, including winter. "Think UV, not heat" is the exact phrase Cancer Council Queensland uses, because it's entirely possible to get meaningful UV exposure on a mild, overcast July afternoon.
For anyone living or working around Newstead, Fortitude Valley, Teneriffe or the Brisbane CBD, that matters more than you'd think - river walks, rooftop lunches, and cycling commutes all add up, season after season.
Australia has the highest skin cancer rate in the world, and Queensland has the highest rate in Australia. Put in individual terms: roughly two in three Australians will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer by age 70. In 2022 alone, 4,249 Queenslanders were diagnosed with melanoma, and Queensland hospitals recorded more than 37,000 episodes of skin cancer care in 2023–24. Nationally, melanoma is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer, with an estimated 17,443 new cases in 2025 - and a five-year survival rate of 94% when it's caught and treated early. That last figure is really the point of this article: early detection changes outcomes significantly, and detection depends on checks happening regularly, not seasonally.
Self-checks matter, and Queensland Health recommends them. But it's worth knowing their real limits: research on visual skin examination suggests the naked eye can miss a significant proportion of clinically significant lesions, which is exactly why dermoscopy — a magnification technique that reveals structures below the skin's surface - is now standard in GP-led skin checks.
There's also a practical blind-spot problem. Areas like the scalp, soles of the feet, between the toes, nail beds and behind the ears are genuinely hard to check on yourself, even with a mirror. Scalp melanomas in particular tend to be found later, partly because they're hidden by hair and rarely self-examined. This isn't about people being careless - it's simply that some parts of your body were never designed to be self-inspected.
Most Queensland adults benefit from an annual full-body skin check. But guideline-based risk factors push some people into a 6-monthly category, including:
If several of these apply to you, it's worth discussing a 6-month check with your GP rather than waiting for your next annual one.
At Next Practice Newstead, a comprehensive skin check means a full-body examination, dermoscopy on any lesions of interest, and - where something needs closer attention -biopsy or referral to a dermatologist. It's also an opportunity to create a documented baseline: a photographic record of your skin today, so any future change has something real to be compared against, rather than guesswork.
Our GP with a specific focus on skin cancer medicine and surgery is Dr Wesley Chan (FRACGP, FACCS), who runs dedicated skin check appointments on Fridays. Dr Wayne Lee also brings a cancer screening focus to consultations, and Dr Daryna Rudolph performs skin checks and minor skin procedures as part of the broader GP team.
Skin checks at Next Practice Newstead are Medicare-rebated for eligible patients. If it's been more than a year since your last check, or you've never had a documented baseline, there's no need to wait for summer.
Book a skin check at Next Practice Newstead, 520 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley, serving Newstead, Teneriffe, Bowen Hills, New Farm and inner-city Brisbane. Call (07) 3518 7880 or book online.
This article is general information only and isn't a substitute for individual medical advice. If you notice a new or changing spot, please see your GP promptly rather than waiting for your next scheduled check.
Queensland Government. Skin cancer explained. qld.gov.au
Queensland Government. Heat and sun safety. qld.gov.au
Cancer Council Queensland. Protecting your skin. cancerqld.org.au
Cancer Australia. Melanoma of the skin statistics. canceraustralia.gov.au
RACGP / Australian Journal of General Practice. (2024). Skin cancer prevention in Australia. racgp.org.au
Cancer Council Australia. UV radiation at work. cancer.org.au
