Mole Mapping - how it works and why you should do it.

Getting your moles checked for any abnormalities is very important and people should screen themselves at least once a year. If, like me, you are extremely moley - basically covered from head to toe, it can be a nightmare to keep track of them all and note any changes in size, regularity, colour and so on.

Well, luckily technology is here to help out with that - Mole Mapping.

So, I shall break it down into a little step by step guide as to what happens and how it works.

Firstly your Doctor will look you over, and that's ALL of you because yes we do have moles in intimate places, so you can't be shy. Then the doctor will mark which moles he/she wants pictured. If you're like me, this means you will be covered in ballpoint pen marks all over.

Next an image is taken of each section of the body and the individual moles are digitally photographed in close up.

The location of each chosen mole is then marked on a dummy within the computer program.

This process can be quite time consuming, especially if you have lots of selected moles like me. I had 225 mapped in all and I think I might hold some sort of record there :-)

Once each mole has been marked, photographed and logged into the system, that part is then done finished. The Doctor will then go through and look at each close-up image and grade it using the screening criteria, which looks at shape, colour, whether there are small veins, blotches and other marks present. This information then determines whether each mole is 'normal' needs to be kept an eye on or should be removed for biopsy.

During my screening, I was already advised that there are several more which will need to be removed for biopsy, some that were obviously borderline and so on.

Once all this information is in the computer, it's there, for the rest of your life and can be given to you to take with you wherever you go. 

Each year you can go back for a comparative screening, where any minute changes in the mapped moles can be detected and the necessary action taken.

This process is invaluable and a brilliant step forward in the detection and prevention of skin cancers and I would advise anyone with moles to go and have it done.

I went to the Dermacare Skin Centre in Dubai.