Many people have moles on their bodies. Some of these moles may be present from birth, while others may develop during childhood or adolescence. However, if you notice an unusual mole on your skin that keeps changing shape or color, you need to pay attention to the mole, as it could be a sign of melanoma ( skin cancer).
Mole mapping is a procedure in which your health professional examines your moles and determines if they are normal or if they present a possibility of malignancy.
This procedure is often used to monitor the skin for melanoma. In the process, the skin is examined, and through the use of dermatoscopy, lesions of concern are identified and evaluated. This article will discuss how mole mapping works, its effectiveness, and other information you should know about the procedure. So, please ensure to read till the end to discover more eye-opening information.
How does mole mapping work?
Typically, mole mapping is done through photographic or digital photographs of the entire body surface. This is kept as a record for future comparison to identify new lesions or to monitor changes in existing lesions.
Typically, mole mapping takes two stages and takes about 20-45 minutes to complete. During this process, a skin specialist will ask you specific questions and understand everything about your health and family history. Next, the specialist will examine each mole and freckle on your body by dermatoscopy. This instrument is used to closely monitor each mole and ensure that all details of the mole are accurately recorded. In the next step, close-up images of suspicious moles are taken for diagnostic submission.
Candidates for mole mapping
People with more than 50 moles are candidates for mole mapping, as are those with large or unusual moles. Mapping of moles is also commonly used on the back, where it can be difficult for patients to track them down.
Patients with a family or personal history of melanoma may consider mole mapping, as can fair-skinned individuals who have experienced severe sunburn in the past. Any patient interested in specific moles or freckles may choose to map moles to monitor them for any future changes.
Compared with self-examination of the skin, mole mapping produces a record that can be used to determine if the lesion is new or has changed in any way. Mole growth or change can continue to be monitored with additional mapping, or the doctor may choose to intervene by removing the lesion.
Effectiveness of mole mapping
Mole mapping is very effective in detecting skin problems, tumors, or skin cancer early. Mole mapping involves regularly monitoring the growth of moles on your skin.
By comparing the images, doctors can easily detect the growth of new moles in your body or the growth in the size of your existing moles.
For any disease or condition, early detection of melanoma can help proactively treat it before it develops into serious complications.
Even the most superficial treatments, like excision and laser, can effectively remove problematic moles in the early stages without causing long-term side effects.
Conclusion
Now that you have a clear idea of the mole chart, we are sure that you may consider doing this health check to better understand your overall health. The information in this article will help you.
Contact Skin Clinic Robina
Early detection of skin cancer is vital to ensuring successful treatment outcomes. Mole mapping is an ideal method of helping doctors identify any potentially cancerous moles that you may have. Arrange an appointment today by filling out our contact form or call us at 07 5562 1300.
