One vital tool that has gained popularity for its efficiency in discovering skin cancer recently is mole mapping. This is a screening process or tool that enables medical skin professionals, like doctors, to diagnose skin cancer accurately.
The process uses a high-resolution digital camera and artificial Intelligence for in-depth and detailed information on a patient’s skin condition. It also charts the changes the skin experiences for efficient analysis.
Mole mapping is an incredibly efficient and precise way of identifying skin cancer, particularly melanoma, which is a big deal since early detection leads to more effective treatment. But there’s no need to panic about getting a mole mapping done because it’s completely pain-free and non-intrusive.
And guess what? The whole process takes less than an hour or even 45 minutes tops. So you can get back to your day in no time while ensuring that you’re taking proactive steps towards maintaining healthy skin.
What is Mole Mapping?
Mole mapping is, simply, a tracking procedure where moles on the body are tracked for any abnormal changes. This procedure is primarily considered for individuals with a high risk of developing skin cancer or melanoma.
The procedure is highly effective and productive, as it uses artificial Intelligence and high-resolution digital imaging technology to track and monitor changes in lesions in the body.
The procedure tracks lesions and moles on the body, so the moles and lesions are continuously checked at different intervals until changes are noticed. Upon noticing changes, measures are taken to address the changes.
What is a Digital Mole Map?
A digital mole map is the data or images created when high-resolution digital cameras capture images of all body areas, taking the size and position of every mole and lesion into the record.
Artificial Intelligence technology is then used to assess both previous and future images from records to identify any big and small changes — even those that the human eye can’t notice.
How does Mole Mapping Check Skin Moles?
Mole mapping uses DermEngine software with AI-assisted monitoring, which scans high-resolution images for abnormal changes in the mole. These changes serve as indicators of the presence of skin cancer.
The information obtained is then reviewed by a doctor, who examines the data in conjunction with your medical history to diagnose a treatment plan. This treatment plan should offer a patient the best chance of detecting skin cancer at its early stage when it can be easily and quickly treated.
This examination doesn’t stop with the detecting of traces of skin cancer. Continuous examinations are conducted to check the extent to which the cancer cells spread throughout the body. The examination also aims to know if the infection can still be deemed in its early stage or at a maturity stage where extreme treatment measures will be employed.
What is a Skin Check?
A skin check is a procedure that involves a thorough examination of the entire body, from head to toe, including under the nails of the fingers and toe, by a skin care doctor. Skin checks are used to examine and diagnose precancerous and cancerous spots on the body. Any questionable spot is photographed under high-power magnification with a particular device called a dermatoscopy.
The dermatoscopy allows the doctor to magnify the high-resolution images taken for detailed and critical examination. The obtained images can be magnified 100 times bigger to increase the accuracy of skin cancer diagnosis and reduce unnecessary biopsies and excision. The images are also mapped out and kept in record for future reference.
As part of the skin check, the doctor will create a skin management plan to treat any precancerous and cancerous spots and reduce the risk of further sun damage.
How Do You Know If You Should Arrange for Mole Mapping, Skin Checks, or Both?
The question of which of the skin examination procedures is better depends on the individual. Skin checks are similar to regular medical checks, but they are focused on the skin. Hence, any abnormalities on the skin that develop over time cannot go unnoticed with regular skin checks. The minimal number of times skin checks can be conducted annually.
However, an individual can arrange for two forms of skin check, the in-depth and regular skin check. The former hints at the presence of skin cancer, prompting the skin specialist to recommend the mole mapping procedure.
The Mole Mapping procedure is primarily recommended for individuals at high risk of melanoma or skin cancer because it allows for accurate and effective diagnosis of the skin’s changes.
How to Prepare for Skin Checks and Mole Mapping
During mole mapping and skin checks, preparation is needed to ensure an accurate examination of your entire body. Some of the ways you can prepare are:
- Stop using makeup, moisturizers, nail polish, tanning, and sunscreen some days before your appointment date.
- If your entire body is covered in tan, it is advisable to wait three weeks before scheduling an appointment.
- Wear underwear of plain color if you are having a skin check or mole mapping. Multiple colors can interfere with the system’s ability to read digital images. Please, note that you don’t need to remove your underwear during skin checks or mole mapping. The only exception is when you have a particular area of concern or spot you want to be examined. A modesty sheet or your clothes can be used to cover those areas which are not being examined.
Benefits of Mole Mapping
Mole mapping has many benefits:
- Early skin cancer and melanoma detection may not have been discovered with a regular skin check.
- Mole mapping is a very accurate and efficient process using digital photographs supported by artificial Intelligence.
- It brings peace of mind, as a patient can now have a rested mind over a lesion or suspicious-looking mole they do not understand.
- Mole mapping helps reduce the rate of unnecessary excisions. There is no need to remove an odd-looking mole that has not shown any change over a long time.
Disadvantages
- It is expensive.
- Capturing, examining, and comparing photographs can take a lengthy period.
- It can be pretty uncomfortable, as patients are photographed while nearly naked.
- Some hospitals specializing in digital mole mapping do not have doctors available to diagnose and treat lesions and moles, causing patients to go elsewhere.
Conclusion
Mole mapping is a procedure that uses high-resolution digital cameras to capture photos of the entire body. With the aid of Artificial Intelligence, it tracks changes in suspected moles and lesions for early detection.
Although it can be expensive, the benefits make it worthwhile. Mole Mapping and skin checks are similar. The former is recommended for people at high risk of developing melanoma and skin cancer, while the latter keeps an individual informed on the changes the skin experiences.
