Mole Check in Melbourne
The likelihood of an individual getting sun exposure in Australia is extremely high. Many Australians work outside, enjoy outdoor sports or spend time at the beach. Even in Melbourne, for more than half of the year the UV index is at a level where wearing sun protection is recommended. Excessive sun exposure increases your risk of skin cancer, so a thorough full body check will help to identify any potentially dangerous moles or skin lesions so that they can be treated at the earliest opportunity. All adults over 18 years old should consider a skin cancer check as many are at high risk of developing skin cancer, and should be checked annually.
In our Melbourne practice, our team of professional doctors have done advanced training through Skin Cancer College Australasia, and are fully proficient in the detection and treatment of skin cancer.
Which moles are dangerous?
Usually, most of the moles discovered on the body are not dangerous. Moles, also known as melanocytic naevi, are brown or black spots on your skin due to a growth of pigment cells. Moles start developing during your childhood all through to your thirties, and they may change in appearance during pregnancy. However, if a mole is changing in size, shape or colour, or if a new mole has developed later in adult life, it should be assessed by a skin cancer doctor.
At our Melbourne practice, we perform skin cancer checks and mapping to detect suspicious moles and other skin cancers. This check is performed using a specialised instrument called a dermatoscope, which allows us to more accurately assess the skin.
What is mole mapping?
In addition to performing a physical check of your skin, our doctors can utilise the latest mole mapping software to take detailed images of your moles. These moles are then mapped on your body, and images taken on subsequent visits can be compared to images previously mapped and any changes to your moles noted. This allows us to accurately detect changes within moles, which provide our doctors valuable information in determining if the mole is suspicious for melanoma.
All photos and mole mapping data are stored on a secure encrypted cloud server compliant with Australian Privacy Principles.
To obtain more detailed advice and costs, we suggest making an appointment with one of our doctors at our Melbourne clinic.
Mole removal
Most moles don’t require removal and can be left alone on your skin without causing any future problems. Sometimes moles are removed because they cause discomfort or for other aesthetic reasons. They are also removed if the mole is suspicious for melanoma, including those detected during mole mapping.
Moles are excised during the procedure performed under local anesthetic performed in our clinic in Melbourne.
For suspected non-melanoma skin cancers, we may arrange a biopsy and send the sample to pathology to confirm our diagnosis. Once confirmed, we arrange a procedure to have the skin cancer removed.
For suspicious moles, we will initially remove the mole with a 2mm margin and sent to pathology for microscopic examination. If the diagnosis confirms a melanoma, a second larger excision is required.
If you have any skin spots or moles that you are concerned about, make an appointment with us at our Manningham Skin Cancer Clinic in Melbourne.