Mole assessment
Worried about a mole? Let's look at it properly.
A mole that has changed, a new spot that looks different from the rest, something that bleeds or itches — these deserve a specialist's eyes, promptly. Dr Claudia Moloabi assesses moles with dermoscopy, the magnified examination technique that distinguishes harmless moles from those that need action — usually in a single visit.
Understanding moles
Most moles are harmless. The exceptions matter.
Almost everyone has moles, and the overwhelming majority are completely benign. But melanoma — the most serious common skin cancer — usually begins as a new mole or a change in an existing one. The difference between a harmless mole and an early melanoma can be subtle, which is exactly why guessing, or watching and worrying for months, is the wrong strategy.
A specialist mole assessment removes the uncertainty. Using dermoscopy, a dermatologist examines the pigment patterns and structures beneath the surface of the mole — detail that simply cannot be seen with the naked eye or a phone camera. The result is an evidence-based decision: reassure, monitor, or remove for testing.
It is also worth knowing what makes a mole worth checking in the first place. Dermatologists use the ABCDE guide — and one more sign that patients often sense before they can explain it: the "ugly duckling", a mole that simply looks different from all your others.
Have a mole assessed if it is
- Asymmetrical — one half doesn't match the other
- Border — edges are irregular, blurred or notched
- Colour — multiple colours or changing colour
- Diameter — larger than 6mm, or growing
- Evolving — changing in any way, or new after age 30
- Itching, bleeding, crusting — or just the "ugly duckling" of your skin
What we offer
From one worrying spot to a full mole map.
Assessment scaled to your skin and your risk.
01
Single mole check
One spot worrying you? It gets a full dermoscopic assessment and a clear answer — usually the same visit.
02
Mole mapping & monitoring
For patients with many moles: documented baselines so genuine change can be detected early and confidently.
03
Biopsy when indicated
If a mole needs testing, the next steps are explained clearly and arranged promptly.
04
Nails, palms and soles
Pigment changes in these often-overlooked sites — especially important in darker skin tones — are assessed with the same rigour.
Your assessment
Minutes of examination. Months of peace of mind.
A mole assessment is quick, painless and definitive.
Tell us the story
When you noticed it, how it has changed, and your personal and family skin history.
Dermoscopic examination
The mole — and usually its neighbours — examined under specialist magnification.
A clear verdict
Benign, monitor, or biopsy: you leave knowing which, and why.
The right follow-through
Photographic monitoring intervals, removal for testing, or simple reassurance — arranged before you leave.
Mole questions
Moles, answered.
Have a question that isn't covered here? Ask the practice directly.
How urgently should a changing mole be seen?
Promptly — within weeks, not months. Most changing moles turn out to be harmless, but early melanoma is highly curable while advanced melanoma is not. The cost of checking early is one short appointment; the cost of waiting can be much higher.
Will the mole have to be cut out?
Only if the examination raises genuine concern. Dermoscopy significantly reduces unnecessary removals — most assessed moles are confidently identified as benign and left alone. If removal for testing is recommended, the reasons will be clearly explained.
Can I send a photo of my mole instead?
A photo via teledermatology is a reasonable first step for triage — it helps determine how urgently you should be seen. But a definitive mole assessment requires in-person dermoscopy, which reveals structures a photograph cannot capture.
I have lots of moles. How do I keep track?
That is exactly what monitoring is for. A documented baseline of your moles makes genuine change visible at follow-up visits, instead of relying on memory. Patients with many or atypical moles benefit most from this structured approach.
Do moles in dark skin need checking too?
Yes. Melanoma is less common in darker skin but is often diagnosed later, and it favours sites people rarely inspect — the soles, palms and under the nails. Any new or changing pigmented spot deserves assessment, whatever your skin tone.