Which Mole Mapping Service Is Best?

A Dermatologist’s Honest Comparison

Which mole mapping service is best—you may ask? Choosing the right mole mapping service can feel overwhelming—especially when different clinics use different methods, technologies, and levels of expertise. If you’re searching for accurate, reliable skin cancer screening, it’s essential to understand what sets these services apart so you can make an informed decision.

In this article, I’d like to offer an honest, experience-based comparison. As a dermatologist with over 30 years in skin cancer diagnostics, including founding a mole mapping franchise in Hungary, I’ve seen how the quality of a mole mapping service can significantly affect outcomes. Here’s what patients need to know.

What We Do at Chiswick Clinic: Full-Body, Dermatoscopy-Based Mole Mapping

At Chiswick Clinic, our mole mapping service is designed around clinical thoroughness, diagnostic accuracy, and patient education. Here’s what makes it different:

• We photograph every mole on your body, not just selected ones.
• Each mole is documented with both clinical close-up images and dermatoscopic images.
• The entire process is performed by Dr. Bela Horvath, a dermatologist with an oncology background and 30+ years of mole check experience.
• You receive an immediate medical opinion after the screening.
• A follow-up comparison is carried out later, where every dermatoscopic image is reviewed on a large screen in detail, and a written report is sent to the patient summarising the findings.
• On follow-up visits, we compare each individual mole with its previous dermatoscopic image, analysing any changes with precision.
• You also receive 45 minutes of one-to-one education based on your skin type, risk profile, and personal mole patterns.

This level of detail, follow-up, and specialist involvement ensures that no mole is overlooked and that patients leave empowered with knowledge and peace of mind.

How Other Mole Mapping Services Work

To help you understand the differences, let’s take a closer look at three typical mole mapping models available across London and the UK. While we won’t name specific providers, the examples below are based on publicly available service structures.

1. AI-Supported Video Dermatoscopy (Doctor or Nurse-Led)

This type of service uses computer-based video dermatoscopy to scan the body, with some images captured manually. Here’s how it typically works:

• The system photographs regions and selects some moles for dermatoscopic imaging.
• Images are sometimes flagged by AI software, suggesting whether a mole is benign or suspicious.
• The clinician (doctor or nurse) may send the flagged moles to an off-site dermatologist for further review.
• The dermatologist reviews only a few selected images.

Key concerns:

• Not every mole is examined dermatoscopically.
• AI suggestions may be useful but cannot replace expert judgment.
• The clinician conducting the screening may not have advanced dermatoscopy training.
• A second opinion (and added cost) may be required for flagged lesions.

2. Franchise-Based Mole Check Services (Nurse-Led)

These are widely available and often operate in high-street clinics or pharmacy settings. Typically:

• A nurse performs the body scan using standardised software.
• Moles of concern are flagged and sent to an off-site dermatologist.
• There is no full-body dermatoscopic imaging.
• You pay extra for a dermatologist’s opinion on the flagged moles.

Key concerns:

• No guaranteed dermatologist assessment at the time of the appointment.
• Only selected moles are reviewed.
• Dermatoscopic images are limited or absent.

3. Tech-Led General Health Screening Clinics

These newly launched clinics offer full-body imaging as part of broad health check packages. While technologically impressive, their mole assessments work differently:

• High-resolution clinical photos are taken, often without dermatoscopic imaging.
• AI may flag lesions for review.
• If needed, a dermatologist may later assess flagged moles using a handheld dermatoscope, but no images are stored.

Key concerns:

• No dermatoscopic image recording and comparison.
• AI flagging depends on algorithm accuracy.
• Skin assessment is part of a general screening, not led by a skin cancer expert.

Why Dermatoscopic Imaging of Every Mole Matters

The most accurate way to assess a mole is with a dermatoscope. It allows the dermatologist to see beyond the surface—looking at structures, patterns, and colours invisible to the naked eye.

When every mole is documented with a dermatoscopic image and later compared, changes can be caught at the earliest possible stage. These images serve as your skin’s digital history, allowing us to track tiny shifts that may signal a problem long before it’s visible.

At Chiswick Clinic, we specialise in this kind of mole-by-mole dermatoscopic analysis. That means:

• Every mole is seen.
• Every mole is documented.
• Every mole can be re-checked later against its own history.

This is simply not possible in systems that rely on AI flagging, visual inspection only, or partial image capture.

The Educational Value: An Overlooked Advantage

We believe that mole mapping should be more than just a scan. At our clinic, your 45-minute appointment is a unique opportunity to:

• Learn what makes a mole suspicious.
• Understand the signs of skin cancer to watch for.
• Discuss your family history of skin cancer, sun exposure, and risk factors.
• Know when and how often to follow up.

Most importantly, patients leave knowing how to monitor their own skin with confidence.

Summary Table: Comparing Mole Mapping Services

Feature	Chiswick Clinic	Typical Competitor Clinics
Every mole photographed	✅ Yes	❌ Often only selected moles
Every mole dermatoscopically imaged	✅ Yes	❌ Rarely
Immediate dermatologist opinion	✅ Yes (Dr. Bela)	❌ Not guaranteed
Follow-up dermatoscopic comparison	✅ Yes	❌ Often not available
Educational consultation included	✅ Yes (45 min)	❌ No
AI analysis used	❌ No (human expert only)	✅ Often relied on
Same-day results	✅ Yes	❌ Delayed / external review

About the Hero Image

The hero image featured at the top of this article shows a real case of an earliest-stage malignant melanoma in situ. The top half displays before-and-after clinical photographs, while the bottom half reveals corresponding dermatoscopic images. The lesion was detected through a comparative analysis of these dermatoscopic images. These subtle yet critical changes—visible only through careful follow-up and dermatoscopic documentation—demonstrate exactly why thorough mole mapping, including dermatoscopic imaging of every mole, is essential for early melanoma detection.

Final Thoughts: Choosing With Confidence

So, which mole mapping service is best? It depends on what you value most. If you want:

• Every mole assessed in detail,
• A specialist dermatologist involved from start to finish,
• Trusted follow-up and mole-by-mole comparison,
• And a clear, educational experience that empowers you—

Then our full-body mole mapping service at Chiswick Clinic is built for you.

We don’t rely on algorithms to decide what’s worth checking. We check everything. Because when it comes to melanoma and other skin cancers, early detection isn’t just better. It saves lives.

Book your mole mapping consultation today and experience the difference of expert-led care.

You can book online or call our team for more information. We’re here to help you make confident, informed decisions about your skin health.