Mole Checks AND Mole Mapping
Melanoma is a common cancer and is increasing in incidence. If you are concerned about the appearance of one of your moles, then a mole check or mole mapping carried out by a consultant dermatologist is essential.
With an increasing incidence of skin cancer, it is important that we check our skin.
If you have multiple moles, a specific mole that you are concerned about or a lesion which is worrying you then you are suitable for a mole check.
What happens during a mole check?
During a mole check, a full skin examination is usually performed unless your preference is otherwise.
- The exam itself is usually very brief taking just a few minutes.
- It entails removing your clothing so that the dermatologist gets to visualise all of your skin. It is important that your whole skin is visualised so the patterns and types of mole you have are seen.
- The more moles you have the longer the exam will take.
- Remove nail polish from fingers and toes before examinations and be prepared to take off make-up if necessary so bring some supplies in case you wish to reapply.
- Don’t wear fake tan as this will make the examination more difficult and not as accurate.
What happens next?
If unusual moles are noticed, you may be sent to the hospital photographer for mapping photographs and close-up photographs of specific moles or lesions, so that these can be monitored over time. Sometimes your dermatologist may take a biopsy from your skin.
A biopsy means taking a sample of a small piece of skin that can be examined under the microscope. This is performed under local anaesthetic.
Automated mole mapping
Automated mole mapping is a screening service that may be offered to patients at risk of, or concerned about skin cancer. The aim is to monitor appearances overtime of moles and to identify new suspicious lesions, changes in existing lesions and is especially useful when tracking large numbers of moles over time. Dr Heelan is the Lead Clinician for the Mole Mapping service at The Royal Marsden Hospital and the FotoFinder Bodystudio ATBM is used. A series of standardised photos and digital dermoscopy images of your skins surface will be taken to generate a total body mole map of your skin.
