Your skin changes gradually throughout your life. Freckles, birthmarks, and moles are all common features, and many remain stable over time. While most moles are harmless, some may change in ways that warrant assessment. Regular self-checks are helpful, and imaging technologies now offer additional ways to monitor the skin over time.
Mole mapping is a non-invasive imaging method that uses high-resolution photography to document the skin and track changes between visits. By creating a visual record, it can help highlight areas that may need closer examination by a health-care provider.
At Dr. Ben Wiese’s clinic in Kelowna, we offer full-body mole mapping as part of our skin monitoring services. No referral is required for private appointments, and patients can book directly with the clinic.
In this blog, we’ll explain what mole mapping is, how it works, potential benefits, and common questions patients often ask.
The Role of Mole Mapping in Skin Assessment
Monitoring your skin regularly can help you notice changes that may require medical attention. Skin self-examinations (SSEs) are one way to stay aware of new or evolving moles between clinical visits. A commonly used guide for assessing moles is the ABCDE method:
- A – Asymmetry: One half of the mole looks different from the other.
- B – Border: Edges may appear irregular or blurred.
- C – Colour: Multiple or uneven colours may be present.
- D – Diameter: Moles larger than about 6 mm may warrant attention.
- E – Evolving: Any change in size, shape, colour, or symptoms.
Some clinicians also reference additional features:
- F – Firmness: A spot that feels firmer than the surrounding skin.
- G – Growth: A spot that appears to be increasing in size.
While SSEs are helpful, they may not capture subtle changes over time. Clinical tools such as dermoscopy and mole mapping can assist health-care providers by offering a more detailed and consistent method for documenting the skin.
Mole mapping uses high-resolution photography to create a record of the skin’s appearance at a particular point in time. Comparing these images over multiple visits can help clinicians monitor areas of interest and identify changes that may need further assessment. Dermatoscopes and other imaging tools can also provide additional visual detail during an examination, supporting the clinician’s evaluation.
These technologies do not replace a clinical examination or diagnosis, but they can complement routine skin checks by helping track changes more accurately over longer periods.
How Mole Mapping Can Help
Mole mapping can be a useful tool for documenting the skin and supporting long-term monitoring. Here are several ways it can complement routine skin checks.
- Greater Awareness Over Time
For individuals with many moles or a family history of skin cancer, mole mapping can help provide a clearer picture of how the skin changes between visits. Having a visual record may help some people feel more informed and reassured about their skin health. - Supporting Timely Evaluation
Identifying changes early may allow for simpler management options. Mole mapping helps create a reference point so that clinicians can compare images over time and determine whether a mole or spot requires further assessment. - Helps Highlight Subtle Changes
By capturing high-resolution images of the skin, mole mapping allows clinicians to review and compare photographs from different sessions. This can help bring attention to small changes that might otherwise be difficult to remember or notice. - Non-Invasive and Straightforward
Mole mapping is a painless, non-invasive process. A full-body session typically takes 40-50 minutes and involves photography only. Biopsies or treatments are performed separately if the clinician identifies an area that needs further investigation. - Building a Long-Term Record
Repeated imaging creates a timeline of the skin’s appearance. This historical record can support clinicians in monitoring gradual or subtle changes that may prompt additional evaluation. - Monitoring New or Changing Spots
For individuals with numerous moles, it can be challenging to keep track of every spot. Mole mapping provides a systematic way to document existing lesions and identify new ones over time, assisting clinicians in determining which areas require follow-up. - Documenting Historical Changes
With repeated mole mapping sessions, you have a clear timeline of any changes to your moles. This historical record helps detect gradual changes over time, which is crucial for diagnosing skin cancer before it becomes advanced.
Melanoma has very favourable survival rates when detected at an early stage.
– The Skin Cancer Foundation
How Mole Mapping Works
Mole mapping uses digital imaging to create a visual record of your skin, which can help clinicians monitor moles and other lesions over time. By comparing images from different visits, health-care providers can track changes that may require further assessment.
Dr. Ben Wiese uses the FotoFinder Automated Total Body Mapping (ATBM) system, a Health Canada–licensed imaging tool. The system captures high-resolution photographs of the skin, including moles, freckles, and other features. These images are stored securely and reviewed during follow-up appointments to support long-term monitoring.
The FotoFinder System
The FotoFinder ATBM system is designed to assist with documenting the skin and supporting clinicians in tracking changes over time. Here’s how the process generally works:
High-Resolution Imaging:
A high-resolution camera captures detailed images of the skin. These photographs are stored in a secure database so they can be compared during future visits.
Full-Body Imaging:
The system captures images of a large portion of the skin surface, including areas that may be difficult to examine closely during a standard visual check. Some areas may not be fully imaged due to physical limitations or patient comfort.
FotoFinder also integrates total body photography with dermatoscopic imaging, allowing clinicians to examine specific lesions in greater detail when needed. These tools support clinical assessment but do not replace a physical examination or biopsy when indicated.
Personalized Skin Health Tracking
Regular imaging with the FotoFinder system can support long-term monitoring of the skin by providing a consistent visual reference over time. This may be especially helpful for individuals with many moles or with personal or family risk factors for skin cancer. Mole mapping can be performed as a one-time baseline or repeated periodically, depending on a patient’s needs and the guidance of their health-care provider.
Repeated imaging sessions help create a record of how the skin appears over multiple years. This longitudinal view can make it easier for clinicians to recognize changes that may prompt further evaluation. For example, when comparing images taken over several years, a provider may notice a mole or lesion that looks different from previous photographs and recommend additional assessment.
At each mole mapping visit, Dr. Ben completes a clinical skin examination in addition to the imaging. The photographs help document the skin, while the examination guides decisions about any areas that need follow-up.
How Much Does Mole Mapping Cost
To continue offering full-body photography and mole mapping, Dr. Wiese de-enrolled from the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) in November 2023. This means appointments with him are billed privately and are not covered by MSP. Patients can book these visits directly, without a referral.
For information about current fees for mole mapping and the associated clinical examination, please contact our clinic. A member of the team can provide details and answer any questions about appointment options.
Supporting Long-Term Skin Monitoring
Dr. Wiese is a general practitioner with a focused interest in skin cancer–related care and more than ten years of clinical experience in this area. His practice emphasizes long-term monitoring and supporting patients in staying aware of changes in their skin.
Mole mapping is one of the tools that can assist with documenting the skin over time. By creating a visual record, it may help clinicians compare images from different visits and identify areas that could benefit from further evaluation. These images are used alongside clinical examination to support decision-making.
For individuals with many moles or personal risk factors for skin cancer, periodic mole mapping may be helpful as part of their overall monitoring plan. If you would like more information about this service or wish to discuss appointment options, please contact our clinic and a member of the team can assist you.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re considering mole mapping at our clinic or want to understand the process better, here are some common questions.
+ How does mole mapping work?
Mole mapping at our clinic involves using digital photography to document the appearance of moles and other skin features. During every mole mapping appointment, Dr. Ben also performs a clinical skin examination. The stored images can be compared over time to help identify areas that may need closer review. If Dr. Ben sees a spot that requires further assessment, he may recommend additional diagnostic testing such as a biopsy.
+ How much does mole mapping cost in Canada?
Mole mapping is a privately billed service at our clinic. For information about current fees, please contact our office. A member of our team can provide details and help you understand appointment options.
+ How to get moles checked in BC?
In British Columbia, there are a couple of ways to have moles assessed. Many people start by visiting their family doctor, who can examine the area and provide a referral to a specialist, if needed. You can also book directly with a private clinic such as ours, where appointments with Dr. Ben do not require a referral. During your visit, Dr. Ben performs a clinical skin examination and reviews any imaging as appropriate.
+ Is mole mapping worth considering?
Some individuals find mole mapping helpful, particularly those with many moles or personal or family risk factors. It creates a visual record that can support Dr. Ben in monitoring changes over time. He can advise whether mole mapping may be appropriate for your situation.
+ Is mole removal covered if something looks suspicious?
If Dr. Ben identifies a lesion that needs to be removed for medical reasons, procedures such as biopsies or excisions done through his private practice are billed privately. Cosmetic mole removal is also privately billed. Our team can explain these fees and what to expect at the time of booking.
+ How often should I get a mole check at your clinic?
Follow-up intervals vary depending on individual risk factors. Some clinical guidelines suggest that people at higher risk (such as those with a history of melanoma, numerous moles, or significant sun damage) may benefit from more frequent skin examinations. For example, individuals with a previous melanoma are often followed every six months for the first few years. Dr. Ben can recommend an interval that suits your specific situation after completing an assessment.
+ When should someone consider mole mapping?
Mole mapping may be considered for people with numerous moles or personal risk factors for skin cancer. Dr. Ben can help determine whether it may be useful as part of your overall monitoring plan.
+ How long does a full-body mole mapping session take?
A full-body imaging session typically takes about 40-50 minutes. The process is non-invasive and involves taking digital photographs throughout the appointment.
+ At what age should I start mole mapping?
There is no set age to begin mole mapping. In general, many clinics offer mole mapping to adults, often starting around age 18, particularly for those with numerous moles or a history of significant sun exposure. Individuals with higher risk factors may consider mapping earlier, depending on their circumstances. Younger people who have specific concerns can also discuss whether a baseline check would be helpful. Dr. Ben can make a recommendation based on your individual situation.
+ How accurate is mole mapping?
Mole mapping helps document and track visible changes in moles over time. It does not diagnose skin cancer. If Dr. Ben identifies a spot that may require further evaluation, he may recommend a biopsy or additional testing.
+ Does mole mapping hurt?
No. Mole mapping is a painless procedure that consists of taking photographs of the skin. You may be asked to stand in certain positions briefly, but the process is generally comfortable and well tolerated.
Visit our Mole Mapping page for additional information, FAQs, and links to scientific studies.
