Mole and skin cancer screening
According to latest statistics, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK. Each year 75,000 people are reportedly diagnosed with the disease. The main risk factor for skin cancer is prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation and sunlight without proper protection, however other factors, such as genetics, may contribute.
Skin cancer can be a life threatening disease. Many experts recommend regular mole and skin cancer screening to catch any potential risk at the earliest stages.
There are three main types of skin cancer:
- Melanoma which is the most serious, malignant type
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Basal cell carcinoma
Early detection is crucial. At the Skin Clinic, our consultant dermatologists will diagnose and recommend a treatment plan quickly and effectively. We’re on hand to provide the highest standards of care for your peace of mind.
What is the mole and skin cancer screening procedure?
Patients undergoing mole and skin cancer screening wil have a consultation with one of our highly skilled dermatologists. The dermatologist will perform a full mole screening and discuss with the patient an individual skin cancer surveillance plan that best suits their health condition.
One of the diagnostic techniques that our consultant dermatologists employ is dermoscopy. During this innovative procedure, our dermatologists use specialised devices called dermatoscopes to illuminate and magnify the different structures within the skin. Some suspicious structures, invisible to the naked eye, contain the blood vessels seen in certain skin and mole cancers. Screening using dermoscopy has been proven to improve accuracy when diagnosing melanoma, allowing earlier detection of skin cancers and a reduction in unnecessary skin excisions.