[Skin cancer screening in Germany : The situation in 2014 with suggestions for the future]

Based on the skin cancer screening model of Germany a critical statement is presented about skin cancer epidemiology, the total body examination and time intervals. The number of skin cancer cases will increase and the number of dermatologists will probably decrease; thus a fundamental and pragmatic strategy is required for further education and planning to comply with the increased dermato-oncological demand of an aging population. Hereby dermoscopy should be a basic diagnostic tool for the early recognition of skin cancer and precursors as well as to avoid unnecessary excisions of benign skin lesions. The excision ratio between malignant and benign skin tumours should be optimized.