Skin Cancer Screening

Digital mole mapping is a safe and non-invasive way of detecting skin cancer using a specialist digital photo documentation system to map moles on a person’s entire body.

• Moles are small, coloured spots on the skin that most people have and which are usually harmless unless they change in size, shape, or colour. Digital mole mapping can help to detect skin cancer, including melanoma, at an early stage when treatment is most effective. The benefits of digital mole mapping include detection of new moles and changes to existing moles, this is particularly helpful for people with a large number of moles.
• To prepare for a digital mole mapping appointment, wear underwear that leaves as much of your skin uncovered as possible, bring something to tie or pin up your hair if it is long, and avoid using fake tan or moisturisers containing fake tan for two weeks before your appointment.
• During the appointment, a dermatology nurse will take a series of digital photographs of your entire body, which will be saved and stored securely on the mole mapping software.
• Most digital mole mapping appointments usually take up to 30 minutes, and follow-up appointments will typically be booked every 6 to 12 months.
• Your photographs will be securely stored in the mole mapping system and can only be accessed by SMC dermatology doctors and nurses involved in your care. You will need to sign a consent form to agree to have your mole mapping photographs taken and stored for future use in your individual healthcare record.

The mole mapping service is led by our Dermatology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nuria Campos, who has spent ten years developing her expertise in the area of dermatology.