Patient guide · Dermatology
Mole check, consultant dermatologist review with dermoscopy for suspicious skin lesions.
A mole check is a structured consultant dermatologist review using naked-eye examination plus dermoscopy (magnified imaging) to distinguish benign moles from suspicious lesions — with excision or referral where needed.
Why patients choose us
- 01
The right hands
A consultant dermatologist who examines you and reports you — one clinician, one answer.
- 02
Often answers same-day
Findings — including whether a lesion needs excision — are usually given in the same appointment.
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Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Key facts
The mole check at a glance.
The six things worth knowing before you scroll further — definition, technique, same-day biopsy, the ABCDE framework, surveillance photography and the guidance we work to.
- 01
Definition
A structured consultant dermatology review of the skin, focused on distinguishing benign moles from suspicious lesions.
- 02
Naked-eye + polarised dermoscopy
Every lesion of concern is examined both by eye and with a polarised dermatoscope — the standard of care.
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Same-day excision biopsy available
If a lesion needs to come off, most partner clinics can excise it under local anaesthetic in the same visit.
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Assess ABCDE features and change
Asymmetry, Border, Colour, Diameter, Evolution — plus any patient-reported change is weighted heavily.
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Photograph high-risk moles
Dermoscopic and clinical photographs of borderline lesions for surveillance and comparison at follow-up.
- 06
NICE / BAD guidance-aligned
Assessment and onward pathways follow NICE NG7 and British Association of Dermatologists guidance.
The examination
From consultation to report — what happens, in order.
One consultant dermatologist from first appointment to structured report — usually within a week.
Phase 1 · Before
Consultation and history
Phase 2 · On the day
Full-skin examination and dermoscopy
Phase 3 · After
Excision, report and follow-up
- 01
Before
Consultation and history
A consultant reviews your risk factors — sun exposure, previous skin cancer, family history, immunosuppression — and any lesion you are worried about.
- 02
On the day
Photograph high-risk lesions
Clinical photographs are taken of any moles that need surveillance, so change can be tracked at follow-up.
- 03
On the day
Full-body examination
A systematic head-to-toe check, undressed to underwear, in good lighting — including scalp, soles, between the toes and the nail beds.
- 04
On the day
Dermoscopy of concerning lesions
A polarised dermatoscope magnifies the lesion by ten and reveals sub-surface pigment patterns invisible to the naked eye.
- 05
On the day
Discussion of findings
You are shown what has been found, what is benign, what needs watching and what — if anything — needs to come off.
- 06
After
Excision plan if needed
If excision is indicated, it is booked (often same-day) with the dermatologist or an appropriate skin surgeon.
- 07
After
Written report and follow-up
A structured consultant-issued report with next steps, surveillance interval and any onward referral — usually within 48 hours.
Typical end-to-end: 1–7 days. Suspicious lesions: same-day excision available.
What it shows
What a mole check can find, in one visit.
The lesions a consultant dermatology mole review is designed to identify and classify — with the red-flag pathway called out separately.
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Benign naevus
A common, benign mole — reassurance and, where useful, a photograph for future comparison.
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Atypical (dysplastic) naevus
Irregular in pattern but usually benign — dermoscopy and, in selected cases, photographic surveillance.
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Basal cell carcinoma
The commonest skin cancer — slow-growing, rarely metastasises, but needs treatment to prevent local damage.
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Squamous cell carcinoma
Keratinocyte cancer that can metastasise if neglected — requires prompt excision and histology.
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Melanoma
Pigmented (or amelanotic) malignancy of melanocytes — earliest possible excision materially changes outcome.
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Seborrhoeic keratosis
Benign, warty, “stuck-on” lesion — confidently distinguished from melanoma on dermoscopy.
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Actinic keratosis
Sun-damage-related pre-cancerous scaly patch — treated with cryotherapy, topicals or field therapy.
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Red flag: melanoma or SCC — urgent 2-week-wait pathway
Any suspicious pigmented lesion or non-healing SCC-suspect lesion triggers immediate 2-week-wait referral.
Next steps
What happens after the mole check.
The eight most common next steps — from reassurance and surveillance to excision, Mohs, sentinel node biopsy and adjuvant therapy for melanoma.
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Reassurance for benign lesions
A benign result is a real answer — and often the one patients most need to hear.
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Photographic surveillance
Clinical and dermoscopic photographs for borderline lesions, reviewed at set intervals.
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Excision biopsy
Complete excision under local anaesthetic with clear margins and histological analysis — the standard for suspicious moles.
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Mohs micrographic surgery (facial BCC)
Tissue-sparing excision with immediate margin analysis — the standard for BCC on the face and other cosmetically sensitive sites.
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Sentinel node biopsy for melanoma
Staging procedure for intermediate- and high-risk melanoma to assess nodal spread.
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Adjuvant immunotherapy
Checkpoint-inhibitor immunotherapy for high-risk resected or advanced melanoma — melanoma MDT-led.
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Radiotherapy
Selected use in non-melanoma skin cancer, nodal disease or as adjuvant therapy after surgery.
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Structured dermatology follow-up
Interval-based surveillance for atypical mole syndrome, prior melanoma or high-risk patients.
Red flags
When a mole check shouldn’t wait.
The nine situations that push a mole check up the queue — and, in some cases, straight onto the 2-week-wait pathway.
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Melanoma
A suspicious pigmented lesion — new, changing, asymmetric or bleeding — is a same-week excision, not a wait-and-see.
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Amelanotic melanoma
Pink, flesh-coloured or red nodular lesions can be melanoma without any pigment — dermoscopy is essential.
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Nail-bed melanoma
A new pigmented streak in a fingernail or toenail, particularly if it widens, needs urgent dermatology review.
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Rapidly growing SCC
A fast-growing keratotic or ulcerated lesion — especially on sun-exposed skin — is an urgent excision.
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Multiple new lesions
A sudden crop of new pigmented lesions in an adult warrants full dermatology assessment.
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Family melanoma history
A first-degree relative with melanoma raises baseline risk — surveillance interval is shortened accordingly.
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Immunosuppressed patient
Patients on long-term immunosuppression have materially higher skin-cancer risk and warrant regular full-skin review.
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Post-transplant skin cancer
Solid-organ transplant recipients require structured surveillance and lower thresholds for excision.
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Suspected sarcoma
A rapidly growing subcutaneous or deep-seated soft-tissue lump is not a mole check — it is an urgent sarcoma pathway referral.
Reading your report
A mole-check report can look intimidating. It isn’t.
Whatever the finding, the report keeps to the same four parts.
A quiet reminder
The report is written for your doctor, not for you — and that’s normal.
If you would like us to talk you through it before your follow-up, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and risk factors
Your details, the reason for the mole check, and the risk factors — sun exposure, family history, immunosuppression — that shape interpretation.
- 02 Technique
Full-skin examination and dermoscopy
What was examined, which lesions had dermoscopy, and whether clinical photographs were taken.
- 03 Findings
Lesion-by-lesion description
Each lesion of note described by site, size, morphology and dermoscopic pattern — with a benign / atypical / suspicious classification.
- 04 Impression
The conclusion — read this first
Overall assessment, any excisions planned, surveillance interval and onward referral pathway if indicated.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover depends on your policy and clinic; we confirm with your insurer before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about the mole check.
Quick answers on dermoscopy, ABCDE, biopsies, surveillance intervals and how quickly results come back.
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What is a mole check?
A mole check is a structured consultant dermatology review of your skin — a naked-eye full-body examination combined with dermoscopy (magnified imaging with a polarised light) of any lesions of concern. It is designed to distinguish benign moles from suspicious lesions and to decide whether excision, surveillance or reassurance is the right next step.
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What is dermoscopy?
Dermoscopy is examination of a mole with a handheld polarised magnifier called a dermatoscope. It gives about ten-times magnification and reveals sub-surface pigment patterns invisible to the naked eye — patterns that materially improve the accuracy of distinguishing benign moles from melanoma.
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What are the ABCDE features?
A structured checklist for suspicious moles: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Colour variation, Diameter over 6 mm and Evolution (change over time). Any patient-reported change in a mole is weighted heavily, even when other features look reassuring.
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Will I need a biopsy?
Only if a lesion looks suspicious on dermoscopy. Most moles do not need excision. When they do, an excision biopsy under local anaesthetic is the standard — often available in the same visit — and histology follows within one to two weeks.
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How often should I have a mole check?
Once a year is typical for people with fair skin, multiple moles or significant sun exposure. Shorter intervals apply if you have a personal or family history of melanoma, atypical mole syndrome or immunosuppression. Your dermatologist sets the interval.
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How quickly do I get results?
The examination findings are discussed with you at the end of the appointment. A structured written report follows within 48 hours. If a lesion has been excised, histology results are usually available within one to two weeks, with a follow-up plan issued on receipt.
Sources
The guidance behind this guide.
- British Association of Dermatologists. Clinical guidelines.
- NICE. Melanoma: assessment and management (NG14) and Skin cancer (NG7).
- European Society for Medical Oncology. Cutaneous melanoma clinical guidelines.
- American Academy of Dermatology. Skin cancer resources.
Reviewed 2026-07-30 by Pulse Atlas Editorial Board, . Next review 2027-07-30. Estimated reading time 5 minutes.
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In practice, in London
Where mole check sits in a private London pathway
With mole check, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it — not whether the scan is available. Public provision for mole check is competent but constrained by capacity. Private London clinics tend to have shorter diaries and longer appointment slots, so you get the same specialists with more time. For people who’ve been going round in circles with primary care, that first proper conversation is often what shifts things.
A private mole check pathway in London usually looks like this: an initial consultation, any diagnostics booked at a nearby facility (most within Zone 1 or 2), and a written report sent to you and your GP within a few days. The consultants we work with hold NHS posts alongside their private lists, which keeps the standards consistent across both settings. For mole check specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.
Where a good concierge earns its keep is in the matching. There are dozens of consultants in London who see mole check — but not all of them are the right fit for every case. We narrow it down based on subspecialty, insurer coverage, the specific question being asked, and whether continuity into treatment matters. The right first appointment saves you from repeating yourself later.