My youngest son once likened my skin to a dot-to-dot drawing – I am literally covered in freckles, and where I once joked that I didn’t tan, my freckles simply joined up, in recent years I have been increasingly worried about the implications of that. Not to mention the damage the sun might have already wreaked over the years; I grew up beside the sea, in the days when sunscreen was rarely used, and when it was, SPF 12 was deemed high. I know I should be regularly checking my skin, but I’m not actually sure how to do it. And I’m embarrassed to admit that I’m not certain which of my blemishes are freckles and which are moles.
Returning from two glorious weeks in the sun, it is on my mind even more than usual, thanks to the news that my mum has had to have a couple of areas of squamous cell carcinoma (a nonmelanoma skin cancer) removed from her face. I decide that it is time I asked for help.
With sites across the UK, including three here in London, The MOLE Clinic is the only private clinic dedicated to skin cancer screening, and has been at the forefront of early skin cancer detection for over 21 years. Their new full body Mole Mapping service is probably the most comprehensive screening available, incorporating a manual full body check with the use of high-resolution imaging. This is no ordinary photography, the clinic has invested in FotoFinder’s state-of-the-art Body Scan Master, which utilises cutting-edge digital and AI technology to provide a full 360-degree view of the skin. I book an appointment at the Harley Street clinic, reassured that I will be in expert hands.
Cutting-edge digital and AI technology provides a full 360-degree view of the skin
We begin with a quick chat about my skin, and my family history, and then Tanya, my nurse explains what will happen during the appointment. Stripped down to my underwear, I stand in front of the camera and assume various positions to ensure that every area of my body can be photographed. Hands on head, feet apart, bent at the waist, etc… I’d feel embarrassed if Tanya was not so lovely. The cutting-edge technology combines high-resolution, polarised and RAW RAW-processed photos with advanced image processing to enable skin lesions to be seen in impeccable detail. The clever camera also filters moles from all total body images and organises them intelligently on one screen, allowing any atypical lesions to be easily and efficiently identified.
Pictures taken, we move onto the full body check. The nurse uses a dermatoscope to visually assess my body in minute detail from head to toe, combing through my hair to check my scalp and even looking at the soles of my feet. As she goes, she points out the differences between the moles and the freckles – finally, I can confidently say which is which, and will be able to keep an eye on them myself. Reassuringly, everything looks good. The verdict: my skin “could not look more normal if it tried”. I breathe a sigh of relief, suddenly aware that I have been holding my breath. And my personal mole map is now on file at the clinic, ready to be compared to future mapping, allowing for the earliest possible detection of changes and giving me total peace of mind.
