Mole Checks & Dermoscopy

Who Needs a Mole Check?

You should schedule a mole check if you notice a mole that is:

• Changing in size, shape, or color
• New after age 30
• Irregular with notched borders or multiple colors
• Symptomatic — itching, bleeding, crusting, or ulcerating
• Raised or feels different from surrounding skin

Annual full-body mole checks are recommended for patients with:

• Personal or family history of melanoma
• > 50 common moles or > 5 atypical (dysplastic) nevi
• History of significant cumulative sun exposure or tanning bed use

What Is Dermoscopy?

Dermoscopy uses a polarized light device (dermatoscope) to visualize subsurface skin structures. It increases diagnostic accuracy for melanoma by up to 30% compared to the naked eye and reduces unnecessary biopsies.

What Happens at Your Visit

1. Full review of your mole history and photos (total-body photography available)
2. Systematic dermoscopic examination of all suspicious lesions
3. Same-day biopsy if a lesion requires histopathologic confirmation
4. Clear follow-up plan for monitoring stable lesions