By Amber O’Connor
Summer might feel like a distant memory, but that doesn’t mean your skin has forgotten all that sunshine. While it’s important to take sun safety seriously year-round, summer usually poses the highest risk for those of us living in the United Kingdom, where the sun is strongest between March and October, given sunburn increases the risk of skin cancer.
While Brits love to joke that we never see any sunshine, the statistics tell a different story. Cancer Research UK says melanoma skin cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the UK. However, 86% of melanoma skin cancer cases are preventable, and, as per the Cleveland Clinic, most skin cancer is treatable if it’s caught early.
It’s for this reason I wasn’t surprised when I noticed an uptick in mole mapping videos on my TikTok FYP toward the end of summer. It’s something I hadn’t heard of before, but it definitely piqued my interest.
Mole mapping typically uses digital imaging to create a map of all the moles on your body to screen for skin cancer and make it that much easier to spot any changes to your skin. Some NHS hospitals offer a form of mole mapping for high-risk patients, and it’s increasingly popular as a private treatment, offered by several clinics across the UK, with some using AI to support healthcare professionals and aid detection.
While mole mapping is most likely to interest people at higher risk of developing skin cancer, it could give anyone some peace of mind. This was my hope when I started researching private clinics. With my pale skin and a family history of skin cancer, I always try to be careful in the sun, and I would go to see my GP if I had any health concerns.
The NHS says it’s important to get any symptoms of melanoma skin cancer checked as soon as possible. For instance, the NHS says you should see a GP if you have a mole that’s changed size, shape or colour, you have a mole that’s painful or itchy, you have a mole that’s inflamed, bleeding or crusty, you have a new or unusual mark on your skin that has not gone away after a few weeks, or you have a dark area under a nail that has not been caused by an injury.
However, I was still interested in mole mapping, both to get a better understanding of what my moles look like now in order to be alert for possible changes, and in the hope that proactive monitoring would bring me some peace of mind, as someone who spends most of the summer fretting about her skin. Here’s what happened, and what I learned, when I attended a mole mapping appointment at The MOLE Clinic, as a private patient.
What is The MOLE Clinic?
With multiple locations across the UK, The MOLE Clinic treated over 30,000 private and NHS patients last year, offering various skin cancer screening and mole removal services.
The screening services include a single mole check, a full body skin check, and full body mole mapping, which is the treatment I tried. Full body mole mapping costs £325, and it includes a full body skin check carried out by a specialist nurse.
The MOLE Clinic’s website explains: “This comprehensive, 60-minute skin cancer screening includes a Full Body Skin Check, allowing our clinicians to visually assess your skin for any moles or lesions that appear abnormal — another key indicator of potential skin cancer.
“We also use high-resolution imaging to monitor changes over time with precision. By comparing results from regular annual check-ups—or more frequent visits when recommended—our clinicians can identify new or evolving moles at an early stage, often before any symptoms arise.
“Mole Mapping allows for earlier diagnosis of skin cancers, potentially reducing the need for unnecessary skin biopsies and providing peace of mind through proactive monitoring.”
While the consultation is nurse-led, the Clinic also uses AI technology to aid detection. The website explains: “By combining regular photographic surveillance with intelligent image analysis, we can identify concerning changes early — often before symptoms appear.”
I was offered an appointment for free on this occasion as part of my article.
What happens during a mole mapping appointment?
When I arrived at The MOLE Clinic’s Oxford Circus centre (they also have clinics in Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, and other London locations), I was feeling a little nervous. Luckily, Screening Nurse Chloe put me at ease from the start of my consultation.
Chloe started by asking questions about my skin history and talking me through what to expect.
No, I’d never used a sunbed, I explained, and yes, I regularly applied sunscreen, but I was prone to burning.
Throughout my appointment, Chloe explained every step, telling me what she was looking for, and how to check my moles at home.
We spoke about British culture, and how many people have a lax attitude to sun safety (when was the last time you took a bottle of sunscreen to the pub garden?) But she was never judgemental, only informative.
Chloe kept me talking as she turned the heat up, wanting to make sure I was warm enough, and then asked me to take my clothes off, but leave my underwear on. By then, any nerves were long gone, and I felt comfortable as she started my full body skin check, using a dermascope to check all of my visible moles, and asking if I had any moles covered by my underwear.
The check was incredibly thorough, covering everywhere from my scalp to my fingernails, under my bra straps, the space between my toes, and the soles of my feet. Chloe pointed out the difference between my freckles, moles, angiomas, and sun spots, and she noticed a birth mark that I didn’t even know about.
To my surprise, I found out I have fewer moles than the average person, though I hadn’t realised because I have so many freckles. She also helped me to identify my darkest moles, which will help me in the future when checking my moles at home.
Then it was time for the mole mapping, which uses AI technology to capture and monitor the exact size, shape, colour, and location of every mole. The procedure is quick and non-invasive. There’s a not-so-glamorous photoshoot, and Chloe showed me the images, which were emailed to me after my appointment.
Less than an hour later, Chloe sent me on my way with the peace of mind I had come hoping for,as neither the full body check or the mole mapping had identified anything of concern. It was really reassuring for me as someone who spends a lot of time fretting about sunscreen, as it allowed me to let go of the worry I might have concerning moles that I hadn’t noticed.
Most importantly, I left feeling confident I’d be better placed to spot any future changes, now I have my own personal map of my moles that I can refer to at home and that the clinic can use when I go back for another consultation.
Is mole mapping worth the money?
Anyone wondering if they should pay for mole mapping will have to decide for themselves, as it’s a personal matter. But what I can say is that I think mole mapping is worth the money, though only you can decide what you can afford and if you’re willing to spend the money.
Anyone with health concerns should see their GP, as I would have done if I’d identified any suspicious moles, and it’s advised to self-examine your moles regularly. But for some, mole mapping might be beneficial to monitor moles.
The MOLE Clinic says that anyone who is considered high risk is recommended to have mole mapping carried out once a year. But while I don’t see myself visiting annually, partly due to my finances and partly because the check didn’t find any atypical moles, I am planning to go back in the future.
https://themoleclinic.co.uk/london-oxfordcircus/
10 Argyll St, London W1F 7TQ
