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Dermatoscopy
mole check · skin check · mole mapping · dermoscopy
The doctor looks at your moles through a special magnifier with a light, called a dermatoscope. It shows details you cannot see with the naked eye.
For a yearly mole check, if you have many moles, if one has changed, bleeds, or itches, or if melanoma runs in your family.
⏱ Duration: usually 15 to 30 minutes
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Skin. Do not put on lotion, foundation, or self-tanner before the visit.
- Nails. If you have spots on your nails, remove your nail polish.
- Check yourself. Beforehand, note or take photos of the moles that worry you.
What to bring
- Past reports and photos of your moles
- Lab results, if you have had moles removed
How it goes
- The doctor asks what worries you
- You undress down to your underwear so all your skin can be checked
- The doctor holds the dermatoscope to each mole that looks unusual
- Sometimes the doctor photographs moles to compare later
- The doctor tells you what to do: keep watching it, or have it removed
What you'll feel
- Nothing, just the touch of the device, sometimes with a drop of gel
Afterwards
- You usually get the results right away
- If a mole needs to be removed, you get a referral
- Your next check is when the doctor advises, often once a year
Common questions
Which moles should I show the doctor?
Ones that grow, change color or shape, bleed, itch, or look very different from the others.
Does dermatoscopy hurt?
No. It is just a look through a magnifier. No needles, no cuts.