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Dermatology · London

Private skin mole check in London, performed by a consultant dermatologist.

A dermatologist-led check of every mole and skin lesion using medical dermoscopy - plus a full-body mole map when appropriate. Same-visit biopsy is available if a lesion needs to come off.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

Indicative pricing

What a private mole check actually costs in London.

Indicative ranges across UK private providers.

In short

£150-£650, reported in the same visit.

Service Indicative range
Single mole assessment (with dermoscopy) £150–£300
Full-body mole map (dermatologist) £250–£500
Full-body mole map + AI photography £350–£650
Mole removal (shave/punch) £250–£600
Excision of suspicious lesion £400–£900
Annual surveillance mole map £250–£500

Prices vary by clinic, whether AI-assisted photography is added, and whether a lesion needs to be biopsied or excised on the day.

The problem

The right check, with the right specialist, on the right day.

A single-mole worry, an annual map and a suspicious lesion are different services. Consultant dermatologist, medical dermoscopy and same-visit biopsy are what turn a mole check into an answer.

  • Not sure if you need one?

    Some moles need checking now, some fit annual surveillance, some can be watched. A clinician can say which applies to you.

  • Not sure who sees you?

    A consultant dermatologist on the GMC Specialist Register is the specialist for mole checks, rather than a GP-with-interest.

What it shows

Find the reason that matches your situation.

A single worry, an atypical mole, a family history or a red flag each call for a different check. These are the most common.

  • ABCDE checks

    Asymmetry, Border, Colour, Diameter, Evolution - the classic dermatologist checklist.

  • A new mole after 30

    Any pigmented lesion appearing in adulthood deserves a proper look.

  • A changing mole

    Size, colour, shape or feel - change is the single most important sign.

  • Family history of melanoma

    A first-degree relative with melanoma raises your own risk.

  • Sun or sunbed exposure

    Heavy childhood sun, blistering burns, or sunbed use - all raise risk.

  • Atypical (dysplastic) moles

    Moles that look unusual under the dermoscope but are not cancer - worth mapping.

  • Annual surveillance

    After a previous skin cancer, or if you have many moles, a yearly map catches change early.

  • Red flags

    Bleeding, non-healing, rapid change - see the safety section, and act urgently.

Mole check types

Not all mole checks are the same.

What each option is actually for.

  • Single-mole dermoscopy

    A consultant dermatologist examines one lesion of concern with a medical dermoscope. The quickest option when you have a single worry.

  • Full-body mole map (visual + dermoscopy)

    Every mole and pigmented lesion examined systematically, head to toe, under dermoscopy.

  • AI-assisted full-body photography

    Standardised photographs of the whole body plus close-up dermoscopy images, compared over time by software and by the dermatologist.

  • Shave biopsy

    The lesion is shaved flush with the skin under local anaesthetic and sent for histology. Minimal scarring.

  • Punch biopsy

    A small cylinder of skin is taken with a punch tool and sutured. Used for pigmented and inflammatory lesions.

  • Excision biopsy

    The whole lesion is removed with a margin of normal skin and sutured. The standard for suspicious pigmented lesions.

  • MoleMax / SIAscopy imaging (specialist)

    Advanced digital dermoscopy systems that store, compare and analyse lesions in high resolution.

  • Post-diagnosis surveillance

    Structured follow-up after a previous melanoma or non-melanoma skin cancer.

Safety and eligibility

A painless, non-invasive check.

A few things to know before you come in - recent tan, hairy areas, medication.

  • No radiation

    A mole check uses no X-rays. Dermoscopy is a hand-held magnifying lens with a light.

  • Painless examination

    The check itself is completely painless - the dermoscope simply rests on the skin.

  • Local anaesthetic for biopsy

    If a lesion needs to come off, a small stinging injection numbs the skin first. The procedure itself is not felt.

  • Children and pregnancy

    Children and pregnant patients can be assessed safely - dermoscopy is non-invasive and safe at every stage.

  • Recent sunburn or fake tan

    These can distort dermoscopy images and photography. Wait roughly two weeks after either before a mole map.

  • Hairy areas

    Very hairy areas of the scalp, chest or back may need light trimming so lesions can be examined clearly.

  • Return visits

    Some borderline lesions are best compared over 3-6 months rather than removed straight away - this is normal, safe practice.

  • Scarring after biopsy

    Any biopsy leaves some scar. Your dermatologist will discuss the likely appearance and site before proceeding.

Reading your report

A dermatology report can look intimidating. It isn’t.

However detailed the check, the report keeps to the same four parts.

A consultant dermatologist reviewing dermoscopy images on a clinical workstation in Central London

A quiet reminder

The report is written for your GP or specialist, not for you - and that is normal.

If anything in it is unclear, ask your dermatologist or GP to talk you through it at your follow-up.

  1. 01 Header

    Your details and the reason for check

    Your details, the reason for the check, and any lesions you specifically flagged.

  2. 02 Technique

    How the check was done

    Which technique was used - dermoscopy, full-body photography, and any biopsy taken on the day.

  3. 03 Findings

    What the dermatologist saw

    Each concerning lesion described in turn, with its dermoscopy features and a site marked on a body map.

  4. 04 Impression

    The conclusion: read this first

    The conclusion, any reassurance, the interval for the next check, and any plan for excision or histology.

Recognised by major UK insurers

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Frequently asked

Common questions about mole checks.

Quick answers on cost, referrals, ABCDE, AI mole mapping, biopsy and results.

  • What does a private mole check actually involve?

    A consultant dermatologist examines your skin - either the single lesion you are worried about, or every mole from head to toe - using a hand-held medical dermoscope. Photographs may be taken for comparison. If anything looks suspicious, a biopsy can usually be done in the same visit under local anaesthetic.

  • How much does a private mole check cost in London?

    A single mole assessment with dermoscopy is typically £150-£300. A full-body mole map with a dermatologist is £250-£500, and a full map with AI-assisted photography £350-£650. Biopsy and excision, when needed, are quoted separately.

  • Do I need a referral?

    No - most private dermatologists accept self-referral for mole checks. If a lesion turns out to need urgent treatment, the report is normally sent to your GP or specialist.

  • How often should I have a mole check?

    For most adults, every 1-2 years is reasonable. Yearly checks are wise if you have a strong family history of melanoma, many moles, atypical moles, heavy sun exposure, sunbed use, or a previous skin cancer.

  • What does ABCDE mean?

    It is the dermatologist checklist for a suspicious mole - Asymmetry, Border (irregular), Colour (uneven), Diameter (larger than 6mm), and Evolution (any change). Change over time is the single most important sign.

  • What is the difference between a dermatologist and a GP-with-interest?

    A consultant dermatologist is a specialist on the GMC Specialist Register with years of skin-specific training and access to biopsy and dermatopathology on the day. A GP-with-interest has done additional skin training but is not a specialist. For mole checks, a consultant dermatologist is the more reliable choice.

  • What does an AI-assisted mole map add?

    Standardised whole-body photographs plus close-up dermoscopy images are stored and compared by software - so subtle change in a single mole over 6 or 12 months is much easier to spot. The dermatologist still reads every image.

  • I am nervous about a biopsy. What is it like?

    A biopsy is a small procedure done in the same visit under local anaesthetic. You feel a brief sting from the injection, then nothing. A small dressing is applied. Most people go straight back to work. Histology results come back in 5-10 days.

  • Is a mole check covered by insurance?

    Many major UK insurers cover mole checks when there is a symptom or a suspicious lesion. Routine surveillance is often self-pay.

  • When should I see a GP or come in urgently?

    Any mole that is bleeding, non-healing, growing quickly, changing colour or shape, itching or sore should be seen urgently - not left for a routine appointment.

Related content

Looking for something else?

In practice, in London

Where skin mole check sits in a private London pathway

With skin mole check, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it - not whether the scan is available. Public provision for skin 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.

The mechanics are straightforward: a consultant appointment, any tests done at a nearby CQC-registered site, and a written report back within a few days. London’s density of private diagnostics - Marylebone, the City, Chelsea, Canary Wharf - means most patients can find something that fits around work without a cross-town trek. For skin mole check specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.

It is worth asking which consultant reads this particular presentation, how quickly the unit turns reports around, and what the onward pathway is if the findings point somewhere unexpected.