Mole Screening

Why should you regularly go for a mole screening?

Moles can develop under the influence of sunlight, or they can also be hereditary.

Normally, a mole can be:

• flat
• emerging
• wart-like

the color can also vary: it may be pink, dark or light brown and black.

A healthy mole is typically:

• uniform in color,
• symmetrical
• has a sharp contour.

It is very recommended that you have a mole screening done at least once a year, but if you characteristically have many moles, we recommend a screening twice a year.
For young children, it is especially important that you, as a parent, regularly inspect your child's moles in good light every two weeks/every month, since the little ones are not yet able to express their complaints and a more serious illness may develop. During teenage years, moles can also multiply and change due to hormonal changes. The frequency of occurrence of atypical moles and melanoma increases with age. With regular mole screenings, abnormal lesion developments can be discovered and treated in time.

When should you definitely consult a doctor?

Sunlight and environmental influences can damage the structure and DNA of cells. If you notice a change on the mole, for example, a change in the

• color
• form
• size
• it may start to itch or
• become painful,

consult our dermatologists as soon as possible.

The moles recommended for removal, can easily develop into skin cancer, melanoma (pigment cell tumor) is a very aggressive and peracute disease that quickly metastasizes into other internal organs, bones, the brain and can be fatal if it is not detected in time. The timely mole screening and, if necessary, excision will help prevent this type of lesion from turning into a more serious problem.

How is mole screening done?

Mole screening by hand with dermatoscope Our specialists will get a full picture of the moles and their main characteristics present on the body, with the help of the so-called dermatoscope, a microscope that can be placed on the skin. It has a zoom of 10x, and displays the current status of the mole. This examination method is completely pain- and risk-free.

Computer mole screening with dermatoscope

The digital or videodermatoscope is a computer-connected camera that can examine moles at 30-40 times magnification. If the mole is "suspicious", a digital photo is taken, and then again next time, so that a comparison can be made of the changes.

Removal of "suspicious" moles is done by justified surgical excision, which is carried out by our surgeons at the suggestion of the dermatologist. This method offers a sure solution and allows for a biopsy to be carried out. It is also possible to remove "peaceful" moles, for example in case of beauty problems, if the mole is in a place where it may be irritated by clothing (e.g. bra straps), or for prevention.