Estelle Mitchell's Bodyworks Physiotherapy Clinic

Mole Check-Up

Molemate™ is a non invasive, quick, painless and accurate mole checking device.

Many of us have moles, and the vast majority are completely harmless - however they should still be checked regularly. Our Mole Check-Up uses innovative scanning technology to investigate suspect moles quickly. painlessly and accurately.

The ABC of moles

A mole may typically range in colour from pale brown to dark brown and can be found anywhere on the body. It can be flat or raised, smooth or rough, or have hair growing from it. Moles can in some cases develop into malignant melanoma (a serious type of skin cancer which requires early detection for successful treatment). Over the last 25 years the incidence of malignant melanoma has risen more than any other major cancer - largely due to excessive exposure to ultra violet light on holidays in the sun or from sunbeds.

If you have a mole showing even one of these characteristics it should be examined.

A - Asymmetry
B - irregular, blurred or jagged Borders
C - changes in Colour
D - Diameter larger than 5mm / ¼ inch
E - Elevation (thickness) especially when uneven

Any alteration is an alarm signal!

Please check your moles if any of these apply to you:

  • You have multiple moles (50+)
  • You have a family history of skin cancer
  • You have melanoma in your own history
  • You have conspicuous moles
  • You suffered from severe sunburn during childhood or adolescence
  • You have sensitive, light skin
  • Your moles have changed:
    • Colour (darkening, loss of colour, new colouration)
    • Size / thickness
  • Your moles feel itchy, sore or otherwise unusual
  • Your moles start to bleed
  • You have spotted a new mole and you are over 25

How do we check?

We use a system called MoleMate. This is a hand-held scanner that uses SIAscopy (Spectrophotometric Intracutaneous Analysis) to take completely safe and painless images up to 2mm beneath the surface of the skin making it perfect for monitoring skin conditions. This shines four beams of light through the skin. The beams are reflected back by the skin's different components and provides information about the characteristics of the mole and the tissue under it. The information obtained is presented as five detailed images (or SIAgraphs), which are then analysed for any potential signs of abnormality.

Using SIAscopy, MoleMate reviews 5 critical elements of each mole or lesion:

  • Full colour overview
  • Blood supply
  • Melanin levels
  • Dermal Melanin distribution
  • Collagen levels of lower layers of skin

Regular examinations allow for comparisons with previous scans to detect changes at an early stage.

This easy, painless and non invasive screening procedure reduces the need for unnecessary biopsies and surgeries of moles that are not suspicious.

Accuracy

SIAscopy is a clinically proven skin imaging technology that accurately detects melanoma at an early and treatable stage. Developed in the UK and widely used in Europe.

SIAscopy's accuracy reduces unnecessary surgery and gives you information quickly and easily.

UK studies have demonstrated that, on average, GP's accurately recognise melanoma 67 - 75% of the time.

MoleMate SIAscopy has been shown to be 80%- 83% accurate.

This means you can be confident of accurate information, reducing the need for biopsies and excisions of moles that are not suspicious.

What happens in my appointment?

A brief history is taken and the area of concern is visually inspected. A photograph will be taken of the area for clinical records. Then, using the handheld MoleMate SIAscope, each mole that requires examination is quickly and painlessly scanned. Images are displayed on a computer screen and analysed. At the end of the analysis you will receive a report including all of your scanned images.

Based on this report you will then know if:

  • The mole is perfectly normal
  • That a degree of suspicion means a repeat scan in three months is recommended
  • That there are sufficient suspicious features to warrant recommending removal

There is good trial evidence that even very early melanomas or melanoma-in-situ will change in three months and the detection rate using this strategy is very high.

We cannot perform minor surgery at the clinic but can arrange for an onward referral where appropriate.