Mole Mappingin Calgary

Mole mapping, also called total body photography, is a way of recording the moles and other spots on your skin with standardized, high-resolution photographs. The images create a baseline record of your skin.

At later visits, new photographs are compared with the baseline. This makes it easier to notice a new mole or a mole that has changed in size, shape or colour, which are among the most important warning signs of melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer.

IntelliStudio is an automated total body imaging system made by Canfield Scientific for dermatology. A camera on a motorized lift moves to preset positions while you stand in a series of guided poses, so the photographs are taken the same way at every visit.

Each image is captured in both standard and cross-polarized light. Cross-polarized light reduces surface glare, which helps show colour and pattern within the skin. The photographs are stored in body mapping software that allows images from different visits to be compared side by side, and individual moles can be documented in close-up with a digital dermatoscope.

Mole mapping is photography only, so it is non-invasive and painless. It is performed by our clinical team under the direction of Dr. Guo, who reviews your images and advises whether any spots need further assessment.

Follow-up is based on your results: Dr. Guo will review your images and determine when you should return. For details about what the appointment involves, call 403-286-6888 or use the online contact form and our team will be happy to discuss it with you.

Our team will explain how to prepare when you book. If you have questions beforehand, or there are particular moles you are concerned about, please contact the clinic and ask our team directly.

Mole mapping may be a good fit if you:

• Have a lot of moles and want a highly detailed digital record for tracking your skin over time
• Are at higher risk of skin cancer, for example because of a personal or family history of melanoma
• Have atypical (dysplastic) moles

To find out whether mole mapping is suitable for you, contact our clinic to discuss it with our team.

Benefits

• Provides an objective record of your skin, rather than relying on memory
• Helps identify new or changing moles earlier
• Can help avoid removing moles that are shown to be stable over time
• Standardized photographs make comparisons between visits more reliable

Limitations

Mole mapping supports a skin examination by a dermatologist; it does not replace one. Photographs do not diagnose skin cancer, and a mole that looks suspicious still needs to be examined and, where appropriate, biopsied. Some areas, such as the scalp, are difficult to photograph and are checked separately.

If a new or changing mole is identified, Dr. Guo will examine it and decide whether it should be monitored, biopsied or removed. Most moles that are removed turn out to be benign.

If a skin cancer is diagnosed, treatment is available at the same clinic. Dr. Guo is a fellowship trained Mohs surgeon, and Mohs surgery is the gold standard treatment for many skin cancers. To ask about mole mapping, pricing or booking, call 403-286-6888 or use the online contact form.

Further reading: Mohs Surgery: The Gold Standard for Skin Cancer Treatment

Visit our brand new state-of-the-art facility with top-of-the-line and cutting-edge technologies and equipment, and a full spectrum of medical, surgical, cosmetic, and laser dermatology.

You can count on knowledgeable staff and easy parking; please contact the clinic for current appointment availability. Our facility is one of the largest Mohs Surgical Suites in Canada.