TAMPA, Fla. — Melanoma cases are expected to spike this year because many people skipped preventative appointments and screenings in 2020 due to the pandemic, says an expert.

"A lot of people have been kind of afraid to go into the doctor’s office, or just being kind of cautious and careful," said Farah Edds, a physicians assistant with OnSpot Dermatology.

OnSpot is a mobile clinic equipped to deliver quick skin cancer screenings for walk-up patients.

OnSpot has seen 3,000 patients in the past few months, as people get back to normal routines of screenings.

"The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a skin check once a year," said Nikki Sindorf, the director of Practice Operations for OnSpot. "That's for everyone, children all the way up.  And then your risk factors will determine if you need one sooner than that."

One in five people will develop melanoma during their lifetime, with a 99% survival rate for those that catch it early.

The Skin Cancer Foundation stated it is expecting a spike of almost 6% in the number of melanoma cases diagnosed this year.​

Experts say you should be screened at least once a year for skin cancer, and more often depending on your sun exposure and risk factors.