Are you regularly monitoring moles on your skin?
It can be the difference between minor mole removal and life-threatening cancer.
We know that Australia has the highest rate of melanoma in the world…
And having a mole map of your body isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity.
In fact, an estimated 18,964 Australians will be diagnosed with melanoma in 2024. That’s one person every 30 minutes!
The good news is that when caught early, melanoma has a 94% five-year survival rate. Caught it too late? The number drastically reduces.
What’s Inside
- Why Mole Mapping Is Important
- Mole Mapping: Catching Skin Cancer Early
- Who Should Be Mapped
- What To Expect At Your First Mole Mapping Appointment
Let’s take a look at why regular mole mapping could save your life.
What Is Mole Mapping?
Professional mole mapping is a skin monitoring technique that keeps a close eye on your moles over time.
Mole mapping typically involves a combination of close-up photography and dermoscopy to create a full “map” of moles all over your body.
By establishing a baseline of what your skin normally looks like, skin specialists can then more easily spot changes during future check-ups.
It’s a bit like having a security system for your skin. Monitoring rather than reacting to problems.
If you are visiting a skin cancer clinic in Adelaide for mole mapping in South Australia, it means the specialists can quickly identify suspicious moles before they develop into something more serious.
Photographic skin mapping technology has come a long way over the years. Some of the most modern systems use advanced imaging to detect even microscopic changes.
Impressive, right?
Regular mole mapping: Why it matters
The numbers speak for themselves.
If melanoma is detected at Stage I, your five-year survival rate is nearly 100%. That’s as good as it gets when it comes to a guarantee. But Stage IV drops to around 20-30%.
What’s the difference between early stage and advanced? In a lot of cases, just a few months.
It’s all well and good to look at survival rates in general. But they can mean different things depending on what you’re actually comparing.
Let’s get specific. When skin cancer is caught early on through regular mole mapping and skin checks, treatment is usually simple. The problematic mole can be excised with no need for chemotherapy or radiation.
Unfortunately, if melanoma gets to a more advanced stage, the treatments can be aggressive. Removal surgery is followed by months of immunotherapy or targeted drugs. The physical, emotional, and financial impact is considerable. Even then, your chance of survival takes a nosedive.
That’s why it’s so critical to both prevent skin cancer and detect it early. It’s not paranoia to get your moles mapped at a skin cancer clinic in Adelaide and monitored regularly…
It’s being smart.
Who needs mole mapping?
Let’s face it. No one likes the thought of a melanoma diagnosis.
But everyone should be doing what they can to protect themselves against skin cancer. It is the most common cancer in Australia, and rates have been steadily rising in recent years.
We know certain people are more at risk than others. But what about the rest of us?
If you want to be sure that you’re covering all bases when it comes to skin protection and skin monitoring, it’s a good idea to get mole mapping done, especially if you:
- Have a family history of melanoma
- Have fair skin that burns easily
- Have over 50 moles on your body
- Have had a history of severe sunburns
- Work outdoors frequently
- Have moles that are visibly different from your others
- Are over the age of 40
And remember, even if you don’t fall into any of these high-risk categories, it’s still worth getting an initial mole mapping session to set up your baseline data. This is especially true if you live in Australia and are exposed to higher levels of UV radiation.
Between regular appointments, you should also be monitoring your own skin. Mole mapping does not replace self-examination; it only supplements it.
How to monitor your own skin
Once you have established your baseline mole map with an initial session, regular monitoring is pretty quick and easy.
Mole mapping typically requires a 30-45-minute appointment to photograph your entire body. Once you have your baseline map, appointments are usually faster because the specialist can quickly identify moles that were previously present.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be checking your own skin at home in between appointments. You should do this, ideally, once a month.
How do you know if you need to book an appointment? Look for changes in moles that conform to the ABCDE criteria:
- Asymmetry. Half the mole is not like the other.
- Border. The borders of the mole are irregular, scalloped, or poorly defined.
- Colour. Moles are usually brown but can be black, tan, red, white, or blue.
- Diameter. The mole is large, generally larger than the head of a pencil eraser (6mm).
- Evolving. The mole is changing in colour, size, or shape.
These are the basics of monitoring your own skin. Your specialist will show you what to look for and keep an eye on.
Here’s a final tip.
Don’t wait until your next scheduled appointment to get a new mole checked out if it seems suspicious.
Book an appointment immediately and get it checked. It’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to skin cancer detection.
What’s the mole mapping technology?
Mole mapping has come a long way from simply photographing every mole in the past.
We now have digitally enhanced photography and 3D body scanning to make sure no spot is missed. Artificial intelligence is also being used to scan for suspicious patterns.
But the human element is still crucial.
It’s not all about the tech. Machines may be useful in sifting through large amounts of data to spot potential problems.
The interpretation of that data still comes down to experience. That’s why choosing the right clinic and specialists is so important.
Get Your First Mole Mapping Appointment
Booking your initial mole mapping appointment is not dissimilar to making an appointment for a general health check.
Most people visit their doctor for annual physicals. Yearly check-ups at the dentist are considered the norm. Regular eye examinations and skin checks are just as important.
If you live in Australia, mole mapping is just as essential. UV exposure in Australia is high, so skin cancer is not a remote possibility.
The risk is real and needs to be managed.
One of the easiest ways to do this is to book a mole mapping appointment.
It’s the same process as scheduling a regular appointment. The difference is, your specialist mole mapping clinic will also send you reminders so you don’t miss future check-ups.
Not sure where to get started? Here’s a list of clinics in your area.
Wrapping up
Professional mole mapping isn’t a luxury for people who can afford it.
It’s a necessity for anyone serious about skin cancer prevention and early detection. The melanoma rates in Australia are some of the highest in the world, and early detection through regular skin monitoring is the only way to catch issues at their most treatable stage.
Mole mapping isn’t the only step in the prevention game. You still need to monitor your own skin at home in between specialist appointments. But by having annual (or more frequent) visits with a reputable specialist, you are taking a massive step in the right direction when it comes to your skin health.
Want to get mole mapping in Adelaide? Here’s a list of clinics to get you started.
Your future self will thank you.
