Before Your Appointment
Full Skin Examination & Mole Mapping
A full skin examination assesses moles, marks and other skin lesions. Mole mapping may also be used to create a photographic baseline, helping your dermatologist monitor changes over time.
How to Prepare
Before your appointment
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Avoid sun tanning and artificial tanning for 1–2 weeks.
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Do not apply self-tanner before your appointment.
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Arrive without makeup on any areas you would like examined.
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Wear comfortable clothing that is easy to remove.
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Make a note of any new, changing or concerning marks.
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Tell your dermatologist about any personal or family history of skin cancer.
What to Expect
1. Full Skin Examination
Your dermatologist will examine your skin for moles, marks and lesions that may need closer assessment. This may include areas that are easy to overlook, such as the scalp, behind the ears, palms, soles and nails.
2. Clinical Photography
Where appropriate, high-resolution photographs may be taken to create a visual record of your skin and selected moles.
3. Mole Mapping
Your photographs are organised by body area to provide a baseline. At future appointments, they can be compared with new images to help identify changes.
Please Remember
Tell your dermatologist about any lesion that is new, changing, itching, bleeding or causing concern, even if it is not highlighted during the examination.