In this Section

• Concern
  
  
• About Skin
• Acne
• Dermatitis
• Eczema
• Genital Warts
• Hair Loss
• Moles and Melanoma
• Nail Disorders
• Pigmentation
• Psoriasis
• Rosacea
• Skin Allergies
• Skin Cancer
• Warts and Verrucas
• Vitiligo
• 
  Treatments
  
  
• Allergy Testing
• Cryotherapy
• Hyperhidrosis
• Laser Surgery
• Medical Consultation
• Medical Dermatology Services
• Minor Skin Surgery
• Mole Check and Mole Mapping
• Photo Therapy
• Scar Treatments

MOLE CHECKS

Regular skin exams by both your dermatologist and yourself can help find changes early, when they’re easier to treat.

DIAGNOSIS

It is important to remember that most moles are benign (harmless). Some melanomas may not fit the usual criteria, but may still be malignant. If you see any kind of change on one of your spots, or if you notice a mole that is different from others – growing in size, changing colour, itching or bleeding – you should see a dermatologist. Warning signs may also be:

• A sore mole that does not heal
• The spread of pigment from the border into nearby skin
• A change in sensation – itchiness, tenderness or pain
• A change in the surface of a mole – oozing, bleeding or a new bump or nodule
• A mole that stands out or looks really different from your other moles
• A brown or black streak or spot underneath a nail

SELF-CHECK

It’s important to check your own skin, preferably once a month. A skin self-exam is best done in a well-lit room in front of a full-length mirror. The best time to do this simple monthly exzam is after a bath or shower. Check any moles, blemishes or birthmarks from the top of your head to your toes. If you look at your skin regularly, you will know what’s normal for you.

PROFESSIONAL MOLE SCREENING

Although many potential skin cancers can be examined with the naked eye, our dermatologist may also perform a more detailed examination using a technique called dermatoscopy. This technique uses a special microscope, with its own light source, which is held close to the skin for a more detailed examination. Another technique called mole mapping involves a series of digital photographs of the moles on your skin taken and archived. This is followed by having subsequent photographs taken at two or three month intervals, that are visually and digitally compared with the initial reference photographs to track and identify any moles that may have changed.

A digital mole mapping session takes about 30 minutes resulting in the preparation of a comprehensive report, which will be available the following day.

BIOPSY

If our consultant dermatologists suspect that a change in your skin may be melanoma, a sample of the area is removed. This procedure is called a biopsy. It can usually be done in the clinic and the sample is then sent to a pathology lab to determine if it contains cancer cells.