Warren123

I went to a dermatologist for the first time in my life recently. I should have gone earlier because I am relatively fair skinned, have had some skin cancer in my family and used to get sun burned as a kid in the summer before the better sun screens came out (I'm 40 years old). I joke that I have the skin of an 80 year old because my skin tone is somewhat poor probably due to sun damage in the past, although I have generally been careful and kept out of the sun unprotected for the past 5 to 10 years. I have a lot of moles especially on my back but also on my stomach, chest of various sizes. I also have a lot of "skin tags" mostly under my arms.

Anyway, the dermatologist examined me and took a shaving biopsy of three of my moles. I was very alarmed by this although I have no experience with dermatology/dermatologists. I should get results back from the biopsies in about 10 days.

Any comments? I realize worrying does me no good, but has anyone else ever been to the dermatologist and gotten three biopsies at once? Do dermatologists often take a biopsy if there is little chance of cancer? Was he being extra cautious or am I fried?