Mole Mapping Brighton & Sussex: Your Expert Guide to Mole Checks and Skin Cancer Awareness

Thinking about getting your moles checked?

Melanoma is the UK's 5th most common cancer. Yet when caught early, 90% of cases are preventable, and early detection greatly improves the chances of successful treatment. The key is knowing what to look for and making regular mole checks a habit.

What does skin cancer look like?

Basal Cell Carcinomas (BCC) typically appears as a round, pearly or translucent lesion - sometimes with a depressed centre and prominent blood vessels around the rolled edge.

Melanoma usually presents as a very dark brown or black mole, which is usually flat rather than raised. It tends to stand out as looking quite different from all the other moles on your body.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) tends to appear like a mini volcano in the skin with a hard keratin core and a dome shape.

What are the signs you shouldn't ignore?

• A skin lesion that bleeds, particularly if it bleeds repeatedly
• Blood on your bed sheets or clothing
• A very dark, flat mole that looks irregular
• Any mole that is growing, changing shape, itching, or becoming raised

If in doubt, always get it checked by a professional. A short appointment will give you peace of mind.

What is the difference between a mole and melanoma?

Moles are collections of melanocyte cells (the pigment-producing cells). Most moles are one colour, round and symmetrical, and usually a fairly light tan brown colour.

Melanoma tends to be flat, irregular, and a very dark mole. It is usually asymmetrical, and it will be evolving and growing over time.

The ABCDE rule: a quick self-check guide

• A - Asymmetry: one half doesn't match the other
• B - Border: edges are irregular, ragged, or blurred
• C - Colour: uneven shading or more than one colour
• D - Diameter: larger than a pencil eraser (6mm)
• E - Evolution: changing in size, shape, colour, or feel

When should you get a mole check?

We recommend a full-body mole mapping appointment with a Consultant Dermatologist every year. This allows changes to be tracked precisely over time.

Why does early detection matter?

When melanoma is detected early, before it has grown deeper into the skin, the outcomes are excellent. At an advanced stage, melanoma carries a high mortality rate.

What should you expect when having a full body mole check?

A professional full body mole check is thorough but straightforward, completed within 60 minutes. You'll be asked to undress down to your underwear so the skin can be examined fully, including your back, scalp and areas that are easy to miss at home.

Advanced Mole Mapping with FotoFinder ATBM

At Experts in Skin and Hair, we're the only Dermatology clinic in Sussex to offer the FotoFinder ATBM whole-body mapping system. During your appointment, you stand on a mat while the FotoFinder system moves around you, capturing images of your entire body. The result is a complete, high-resolution mosaic of every mole and skin blemish across your body.

Early checks save lives

When it comes to your skin, there is no such thing as being too careful. 90% of cases are preventable when diagnosed early.