When to See a Dermatologist? Dermoscopy of Moles

Watching your own moles is a great habit, but it has its limits. At some point it is worth showing your skin to a specialist — and this is not about panic, but about calm, informed prevention. In this article we explain when to see a dermatologist, what a mole check looks like, what dermoscopy and videodermoscopy are, and how to prepare well for your appointment.

Signs that mean: see a dermatologist now

Some changes should not wait for your next routine check. Book an appointment without delay if you notice:

• A mole that bleeds on its own, without any injury
• A rapid change over weeks or a few months — growth, or a shift in shape or colour
• New symptoms: itching, burning, pain, crusting, or a sore that will not heal
• A mole that meets the ABCDE criteria (asymmetry, irregular border, multiple colours, diameter over 6 mm, evolution)
• The ugly duckling — a spot that clearly stands out from all the other moles on your body
• A dark streak under a nail that does not grow out with the nail and does not fade

If you want to refresh how to assess a mole at home, see our guide to the ABCDE rule. It also helps to know what melanoma looks like and its first symptoms — this makes it easier to tell an ordinary mole from a change that needs urgent attention.

Who should have regular checks?

Even without worrying symptoms, some people should have their moles checked periodically. You are in a higher-risk group if you:

• Have many moles (more than 50) or several atypical (dysplastic) moles
• Have a family history of melanoma or other skin cancer
• Have already been treated for a skin lesion yourself
• Have fair skin, red or blond hair, freckles, and burn easily in the sun
• Had blistering sunburns in the past, especially in childhood, or used tanning beds
• Have a weakened immune system, for example after an organ transplant

If several of these points apply to you, treat a dermatology check like a routine screening — a part of your habits, not a reaction to fear.

What does a dermatology visit look like?

A mole check is painless and usually quick. It typically goes like this:

1. History — the doctor asks about new or changing moles, symptoms, your tanning history, and any skin cancer in the family.
2. Full-skin examination — ideally the whole body, including the scalp, feet, spaces between the toes, and nails. It is best to come without make-up and without nail polish.
3. Dermoscopy — a detailed look at selected lesions under magnification.
4. Recommendations — observation, a follow-up after a set time, or a referral to have a lesion removed and examined.

What is dermoscopy?

Dermoscopy is an examination of the skin using a dermatoscope — a handheld device with strong magnification and lighting. It lets the doctor look beneath the surface of the skin and see structures and pigment patterns that are invisible to the naked eye. As a result, the dermatologist can far more accurately tell benign lesions from suspicious ones and reduces the number of unnecessary procedures.

The examination is non-invasive and painless. The dermatoscope is placed against the skin, sometimes with a little gel or fluid to improve clarity. Assessing a single mole takes only a few seconds.

Videodermoscopy and mole mapping

Videodermoscopy is dermoscopy combined with a camera and software. Mole images are stored digitally, which makes it possible to compare them at later visits and catch even small changes over time.

For people with many or atypical moles, doctors sometimes perform mole mapping — whole-body photos plus dermoscopic images of selected lesions create a "map" they return to at the next check. This is especially valuable for higher-risk patients, because what matters most is not a single assessment but tracking evolution over time.

What if the doctor recommends a biopsy?

If a lesion looks suspicious, the dermatologist may suggest removing it and sending it for histopathology (a biopsy). This usually means surgically excising the mole under local anaesthesia and sending it to a laboratory, where its nature is assessed under a microscope.

Stay calm: the vast majority of removed lesions turn out to be benign. Removing a mole is a diagnostic step and a precaution, not a confirmation of disease. And if a lesion does turn out to be cancerous, finding it early gives a very good prognosis — which is exactly why a consultation should not be put off.

How often should you have your moles checked?

There is no single rule for everyone — the frequency depends on your risk:

• Low risk, few moles, no family history: a check every 1–2 years plus monthly self-examination.
• Higher risk (many moles, atypical moles, family history): a check once a year or more often, as advised by your doctor.
• After melanoma treatment or for lesions under observation: at the intervals your specialist sets, often every 3–6 months.

Whatever the schedule — any sudden, worrying change is a reason to come in sooner.

How to prepare for your visit

Good preparation makes the consultation more effective and leaves you more reassured. Before the visit:

• Come without make-up, self-tanner, or nail polish, in clothes that are easy to take off.
• Prepare a list of changes that worry you and specific questions.
• Note since when you have been watching the change and what exactly has changed.
• Bring a photo history of the moles in question — images from different dates that show evolution are the most useful to a doctor.

This is exactly where J-Skin helps. The app keeps a dated photo history of every mole, automatically measures its diameter in millimetres using coin calibration, and stores your ABCDE notes. You can generate a PDF report with a timeline, a diameter-change chart, and selected photos, then show it to your doctor or send it ahead of the visit. That turns a vague "I think it grew a bit" into concrete data.

Remember: the app does not replace a doctor

J-Skin helps you observe, measure, and document your moles so you don't miss the moment something changes. It does not, however, make a diagnosis and does not replace a dermoscopic examination. If you have any doubts, or notice any of the signs described above — make an appointment with a dermatologist. Early detection is the most effective protection you have.