Skin Cancer Clinic maroochydore
Early Detection Saves Lives.
Located on the Sunshine Coast, SunCoast Skin is committed to promoting sun safety and protecting your skin health.
On the Sunshine Coast, year-round UV puts you at serious risk for skin cancer. At SunCoast Skin Coolum, our highly experienced doctors — with advanced qualifications in skin cancer medicine — provide thorough, evidence-based skin checks to detect issues early, when treatment is most effective. Don’t wait. Book your skin check today!
Servicing the wider Maroochydore and central surrounds and areas. We are located a convenient 15 to 20 minute drive away. Patients choose our clinic in Coolum for advanced skin checks. No referrals needed.
Why Skin Checks Are Essential
Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, with skin cancers making up around 80% of all newly diagnosed cancers. Melanoma is the most common cancer in Australians aged 20–39, and sadly, more than 2,000 Australians die from skin cancer every year.
Living on the Sunshine Coast — with its year-round high UV levels — places our community at particular risk. But there’s good news: early detection significantly improves outcomes. Regular skin checks are one of the most effective ways to protect your health, enabling timely diagnosis and treatment when it matters most.
Have questions? See our Skin Cancer FAQs for more information.
What to Expect During Your Skin Check
Your comfort, privacy, and dignity are our priority. Here’s what you can expect when you visit us:
Full-body examination – Thorough visual check of all sun-exposed and at-risk areas
Advanced dermoscopy – High-powered assessment of spots and lesions
Targeted photography – Images taken for monitoring changes over time (if needed)
Personalised risk assessment – Advice based on your history, lifestyle, and sun exposure
Chaperone support – Available on request for your comfort
Tip: For the best results, please attend without makeup, nail polish, or fake tan (avoid self-tanners for two weeks) and wear easily removable clothing.
Treatment Options
We both offer surgical and non-surgical treatment options for skin cancers, including Photodynamic Therapy, topical immunotherapy and topical chemotherapy treatments. Treatment programmes are tailored to suit your specific needs.
Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a non-surgical treatment for certain skin cancers and precancerous lesions. It involves applying a light-sensitive medication to the affected area, then activating it with daylight or red light to selectively destroy abnormal cells.
PDT is commonly used for:
Actinic keratoses (sunspots)
Superficial basal cell carcinomas (BCCs)
Superficial squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs)
This targeted, tissue-sparing approach offers an effective alternative to surgery, often with excellent cosmetic outcomes.
Daylight Photodynamic Therapy (Daylight PDT) is a non-invasive treatment primarily used to manage actinic keratoses (sunspots), which are precancerous lesions resulting from long-term sun exposure. Utilises natural daylight to activate the photosensitising agent. This method is ideal for treating larger surface areas such as the full face or scalp. It is generally well tolerated with minimal discomfort, making it suitable for patients with multiple lesions or field cancerisation. It is an effective, convenient option for treating larger surface areas, such as the full face or scalp, with minimal discomfort.
The procedure begins with a brief, 30-minute appointment at the clinic, during which your skin is gently prepared using light dermabrasion and cleansing. A special photosensitising cream—activated by natural UV light—is then applied to the treatment area. Sunscreen is also applied to all other sun-exposed areas for protection.
Following your appointment, you will be instructed to spend 2 to 3 hours in early morning sunlight, which activates the cream. After this period, the cream is washed off at home. It’s important to avoid direct sun exposure for 3 days following treatment, as the skin remains light-sensitive during this time.
Daylight PDT is well tolerated by most patients and typically does not require any form of pain relief. It offers a gentle yet effective approach to managing sun-damaged skin with excellent cosmetic outcomes.
Red Light Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is an effective, non-surgical treatment used for small to medium-sized superficial basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs in situ). Involves exposure to a controlled red LED light after the application of the photosensitising agent. This method is typically more suitable for treating smaller, defined areas with greater precision and depth.This targeted therapy allows for the selective destruction of cancerous cells while preserving surrounding healthy tissue.
The treatment process begins in the clinic, where a UV-activated photosensitising cream is applied directly to the lesion. The area is then covered with a light-protective dressing, and you may leave the clinic—provided the treated area is kept completely out of sunlight.
After 4 to 6 hours, you will return to the clinic, where the lesion is exposed to a red LED light for approximately 8 minutes. This activates the medication and initiates the destruction of abnormal cells. A second treatment is typically scheduled 1 to 2 weeks later to ensure optimal effectiveness.
Most patients experience mild to moderate discomfort during the light exposure, often described as stinging or burning. We recommend taking paracetamol approximately 30 minutes prior to your appointment to help manage any discomfort.
Red Light PDT offers a tissue-preserving, cosmetically favourable alternative to surgery, particularly for superficial skin cancers.
You will be sent home with a care pack after the procedure with a 1 month review.
Disclaimer
All information is general and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Suncoast Skin can consult with you to confirm if a treatment/procedure is right for you.
References
Cancer Council, About Skin Cancer,
https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/skin-cancer/about-skin-cancer/, [Accessed 28 August 2024]
LaBerge GS, Duvall E, Grasmick Z, Haedicke K, Galan A, Leverett J, Baswan S, Yim S, Pawelek J. Recent Advances in Studies of Skin Color and Skin Cancer. Yale J Biol Med. 2020 Mar 27;93(1):69-80. PMID: 32226338; PMCID: PMC7087065.