If you have lots of moles, particularly lots of atypical moles, mole mapping may be worth discussing with your doctor or dermatologist.
Mole mapping uses photographs of your skin to create a baseline record. At future skin checks, these images can be compared with newer images to help find:
- new moles or spots
- moles that have changed
- spots that look different from your other moles
This can be especially useful when you have so many moles that it is difficult to remember what each one looked like.
Mole mapping does not diagnose melanoma by itself, and it does not replace a skin examination by a trained health professional.
What is mole mapping?
Mole mapping is a way of recording the appearance and location of moles and other spots on your skin.
It commonly includes total body photography, where a standard set of photographs is taken of different areas of your body.
Depending on the service and your level of risk, mole mapping may also include:
- close-up photographs of particular moles
- examination with a dermatoscope
- digital dermoscopic images of selected moles
- comparison with previous images at future appointments
A dermatoscope is a special magnifying tool that allows a doctor to see structures inside a mole that cannot easily be seen with the naked eye.
For someone with only a few moles, remembering them may be fairly easy. For somebody with hundreds of moles, photographs can make monitoring much more practical.
I have hundreds of moles. Should I be worried?
Having hundreds of moles does not mean you have melanoma.
Most moles are harmless.
However, having a high number of moles is associated with a higher risk of melanoma. This means it is particularly important to know what is normal for your skin and notice changes.
There is another problem when you have a very large number of moles: spotting one changing mole among hundreds can be difficult.
Think of it like looking at a large crowd of people. If you see the same crowd every day, it may be difficult to notice one new person. A photograph gives you something to compare with.
This is one of the reasons total body photography and mole mapping may be considered for people with high mole counts.
What are atypical moles?
An atypical mole, also called an atypical naevus, is a mole with features that look different from a typical common mole.
An atypical mole may:
- be larger than many of your other moles
- have an irregular shape
- have an uneven border
- contain several shades of colour
- look different from the other moles on your body
An atypical mole is not automatically melanoma.
In fact, atypical naevi are benign. However, people with atypical naevi have a higher overall risk of developing melanoma, particularly when they have many of them.
That makes regular skin surveillance important.
What are dysplastic naevi?
You may hear the terms atypical naevi and dysplastic naevi used together, but medically they are not exactly the same thing.
An atypical naevus describes a mole that looks unusual during a skin examination.
A dysplastic naevus is technically a diagnosis based on the mole’s microscopic appearance after tissue has been examined by a pathologist.
Most importantly, having a dysplastic naevus does not mean that mole will become melanoma.
Doctors generally do not remove every atypical or dysplastic mole just because it exists. Instead, the best approach depends on the individual mole and your overall melanoma risk.
For someone with lots of atypical moles or dysplastic naevi, monitoring the skin over time can be particularly valuable.
Why is mole mapping useful when you have lots of atypical moles?
Someone with one unusual mole can concentrate on that particular spot.
Someone with 50, 100 or hundreds of moles has a much harder job.
You may find yourself asking:
“Was that mole always there?”
“Has that one become darker?”
“Was that mole always that shape?”
“Is this spot new?”
Mole mapping provides a visual record that can help answer these questions.
Rather than relying only on memory, your healthcare professional can compare your current skin with previous photographs.
This can help identify a mole that is new or has genuinely changed.
What is the best way to monitor many moles?
For people at increased risk, the best way to monitor many moles usually involves several methods working together, rather than relying on one test.
1. Get to know your own skin
Learn what your normal moles and spots look like.
Pay attention to areas that are easy to miss, including your:
- back
- scalp
- backs of your legs
- feet and toes
- hands and fingers
Ask someone you trust to help check areas you cannot see easily.
2. Look for the “ugly duckling”
Many people have a pattern to their moles.
For example, most of your moles might be small and light brown. Or many may be larger and darker.
A spot that looks noticeably different from the rest is sometimes called an “ugly duckling” mole.
A new or unusual-looking spot should be assessed rather than ignored simply because you already have many unusual moles.
3. Remember the ABCDE warning signs
The ABCDE guide can help you recognise some possible melanoma warning signs:
A – Asymmetry: One half looks different from the other.
B – Border: The edges are irregular or poorly defined.
C – Colour: There are several colours or an unusual change in colour.
D – Diameter: Larger spots may need attention, although melanoma can also be small.
E – Evolving: The spot is changing in size, shape, colour or appearance.
Change is particularly important.
A spot that starts itching, bleeding, becoming painful or behaving differently should also be checked.
4. Have professional skin examinations when recommended
A GP, skin cancer doctor or dermatologist can examine your skin and may use dermoscopy to look more closely at particular spots.
How often you need a professional skin check depends on factors such as:
- how many moles you have
- whether you have atypical naevi
- your personal history of melanoma or other skin cancers
- your family history
- your skin type
- your age
- your history of sun exposure and sunburn
There is no single skin-check schedule that is right for everybody.
5. Consider total body photography or mole mapping
If keeping track of your moles is difficult, photographs can provide a useful baseline.
Total body photography can help your healthcare professional look for both new spots and changes to existing spots.
Selected moles may also be photographed through a dermatoscope so very small changes can be compared over time.
Who may benefit most from mole mapping?
Mole mapping may be particularly useful for people who have:
- a very large number of moles
- hundreds of moles
- lots of atypical moles
- multiple atypical naevi
- dysplastic naevi
- difficulty monitoring their own skin
- a personal history of melanoma
- a strong family history of melanoma
- other factors that place them at higher risk of melanoma
Having one of these factors does not automatically mean you need mole mapping.
Your overall risk should be assessed by an appropriately qualified health professional.
Does mole mapping photograph every single mole?
Not necessarily.
With total body photography, photographs are taken of the skin in standard positions. These images create an overview of your skin.
Individual close-up or dermoscopic photographs may then be taken of selected spots that need closer monitoring.
This means a person with hundreds of moles does not necessarily need hundreds of separate close-up photographs.
The main goal is to create a reliable baseline that can be compared over time.
Can mole mapping detect melanoma?
Mole mapping can help with the early detection process, but it is not a stand-alone melanoma test.
A photograph cannot tell you with certainty whether a mole is cancerous.
If a doctor finds a suspicious lesion, further assessment may be required. When melanoma is suspected, the lesion may need to be removed and examined under a microscope.
Mole mapping is therefore best thought of as a monitoring tool, not a guarantee that melanoma will be found or ruled out.
Does every atypical mole need to be removed?
No.
People with lots of atypical moles may have many harmless spots that look unusual.
Removing every atypical mole would often mean removing many benign moles unnecessarily.
Instead, a doctor considers the appearance of each lesion, whether it has changed, its dermoscopic features and your overall melanoma risk.
A suspicious lesion may need to be biopsied or removed.
Other lesions may be suitable for monitoring.
How often should mole mapping be repeated?
There is no single correct interval for everyone.
Some individual lesions may need a short-term review. In other cases, repeat total body photography may take place after a longer interval.
The timing should be based on your individual risk and the findings from your examination.
Most importantly, do not wait for your next scheduled mole mapping appointment if you notice a suspicious change.
A new, changing, bleeding, itching or unusual spot should be assessed promptly.
Is taking photos at home enough?
Taking your own photographs can be useful for getting to know your skin, but home photographs have limitations.
Lighting, camera angle, distance and image quality can change each time you take a picture. That can make small changes difficult to judge.
Professional mole mapping usually uses standardised photography so future images can be compared more reliably.
It may also combine photography with a professional skin examination and dermoscopy.
Home skin checks can be an important part of monitoring, but they should not replace professional assessment when you have a concerning lesion or increased melanoma risk.
Lots of moles can make skin checks harder — not impossible
Having lots of moles can feel overwhelming.
You do not need to memorise every spot on your body.
The aim is to create a sensible monitoring system that makes genuine changes easier to find.
For a person with many moles, atypical moles or dysplastic naevi, that system may include:
- knowing what is normal for your skin
- checking for new or changing spots
- regular professional skin examinations based on your risk
- dermoscopy when appropriate
- total body photography or mole mapping when useful
Together, these methods can provide a much clearer picture than relying on memory alone.
So, do I need mole mapping?
If you have hundreds of moles, lots of atypical moles or a history of dysplastic naevi, mole mapping is worth discussing with your GP, skin cancer doctor or dermatologist.
It can be particularly helpful when the number of moles makes it difficult to identify what is new or changing.
The decision should be based on your overall melanoma risk rather than your mole count alone.
Mole mapping is not a replacement for a medical skin examination. It is a tool that can help you and your healthcare professional monitor your skin more accurately over time.
If a mole is new, changing, looks different from your other moles, or starts bleeding, itching or causing concern, have it checked rather than waiting for your next routine appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is mole mapping good for people with hundreds of moles?
Yes, it can be particularly useful for people with very high mole counts because total body photographs create a baseline that can be compared with future skin examinations. Whether you need it depends on your individual melanoma risk.
What is the best way to monitor many moles?
For higher-risk people, monitoring may include self-checks, professional full-skin examinations, dermoscopy and total body photography or mole mapping. Your doctor can recommend the right combination for you.
Are atypical moles cancerous?
Usually not. Atypical naevi are benign moles, but having atypical naevi is associated with a higher overall risk of melanoma. A new or changing atypical mole should be professionally assessed.
Are dysplastic naevi the same as melanoma?
No. A dysplastic naevus is not melanoma. The term refers to particular microscopic features seen when a mole is examined by a pathologist. Having dysplastic naevi can be a marker of increased melanoma risk.
Should all dysplastic naevi be removed?
No. Routine removal of every dysplastic or atypical naevus is generally not recommended. Suspicious lesions should be assessed individually by an appropriate healthcare professional.
Does mole mapping replace a skin check?
No. Mole mapping is a monitoring tool. It works best alongside examination by a suitably trained healthcare professional and, when appropriate, dermoscopy.
Should I wait for my next mole map if a mole changes?
No. If you notice a new or changing spot, an “ugly duckling” mole, or a spot that bleeds, itches or otherwise concerns you, arrange a medical assessment rather than waiting for your next scheduled mole mapping session.
Medical information disclaimer: This article provides general information only and is not a substitute for individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are concerned about a mole or skin lesion, speak with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.