If you have had melanoma before, have a lot of moles, or have been told you are at higher risk of skin cancer, you may have heard about Total Body Photography, also called TBP.

You might be wondering:

Do I actually need it?

That is a very good question, because Total Body Photography is not something everyone needs.

It is most helpful for people who are at a higher risk of melanoma, especially when they have lots of moles or unusual-looking moles that can be hard to keep track of.

In this guide, we explain who may benefit from Total Body Photography, including people who:

• have had melanoma before
• have many moles
• have unusual or atypical moles
• have a strong family history of melanoma
• are immunosuppressed or have had an organ transplant

We will also explain what Total Body Photography can and cannot do.

What is Total Body Photography?

Total Body Photography is a set of clear photographs taken of most of your skin.

These photos create a baseline, or starting point, so your skin can be compared with future photos.

This can help answer a very important question:

“Was that spot there before, and has it changed?”

That might sound simple, but it can be very helpful.

Most people cannot remember every mole on their body. If you have 50, 80 or even 100 moles, it can be almost impossible to remember which spots were already there.

Total Body Photography gives your doctor a visual record to compare over time.

It can help them look for:

• new spots
• moles that have changed in shape
• changes in colour
• changes in size
• spots that look different from your other moles

It is important to know that Total Body Photography does not diagnose melanoma by itself.

It is one tool that can help your doctor decide which spots need a closer look.

Who should consider Total Body Photography?

Total Body Photography can be useful for people who are at higher risk of melanoma or who have skin that is difficult to monitor.

You may want to talk to your doctor about TBP if you:

• have had melanoma before
• have a large number of moles
• have many unusual or atypical moles
• have a strong family history of melanoma
• have certain inherited melanoma risk factors
• are immunosuppressed
• have had an organ transplant
• have a combination of several melanoma risk factors

The more moles you have, the harder it can be to notice when something new appears.

That is one of the biggest reasons Total Body Photography can be helpful.

Do high-risk melanoma patients need Total Body Photography?

Many people at high risk of melanoma may benefit from Total Body Photography.

But not every high-risk person will need exactly the same type of monitoring.

Your doctor may look at several things when deciding what is best for you, such as:

• whether you have had melanoma before
• how many moles you have
• whether your moles are unusual
• your family history
• your skin type
• how much sun damage you have
• your age
• whether your immune system is weakened

For someone with only a few moles, taking photos of the whole body may not add much.

But imagine someone who has more than 100 moles.

At every skin check, both the patient and doctor are trying to work out whether one of those spots is new or has changed.

That can be difficult.

Having photographs from an earlier visit can make this much easier.

So instead of asking:

“Is Total Body Photography good for everyone at high risk?”

A better question is:

“Would having photos of my skin make it easier to notice a new or changing spot?”

For many high-risk patients, the answer is yes.

Should I have Total Body Photography if I have had melanoma before?

If you have had melanoma before, Total Body Photography is definitely worth discussing with your doctor.

People who have already had melanoma have a higher chance of developing another melanoma compared with someone who has never had one.

That does not mean another melanoma will happen.

It simply means that ongoing skin checks are especially important.

TBP can be even more useful if you have had melanoma and also have lots of moles.

For example, imagine someone who has previously had melanoma and has 70 moles across their back, chest, arms and legs.

At future skin checks, the doctor needs to know:

• Has one of those moles changed?
• Is there a completely new spot?
• Does one lesion now look different from the others?

Having old photographs to compare with can make these questions easier to answer.

For this reason, people who have had melanoma before are often good candidates for photographic skin monitoring.

I have lots of moles. Do I need Total Body Photography?

People with lots of moles are one of the main groups who may benefit from Total Body Photography.

The reason is simple.

The more moles you have, the harder they are to remember.

You may notice a brown spot and think:

“Has that always been there?”

Without old photos, it may be difficult to know.

Total Body Photography gives your doctor something real to compare with instead of relying on memory.

Having many moles can also increase melanoma risk.

Some expert recommendations suggest digital monitoring is worth considering for people with around 60 or more moles.

People with more than 40 moles may also benefit if they have another important risk factor, such as:

• a previous melanoma
• an organ transplant
• certain genetic risk factors

However, these numbers are not strict rules.

You do not suddenly “need” TBP when you reach a certain number of moles.

Your overall risk matters more than one number.

What if I have unusual or atypical moles?

People with many unusual-looking moles can also benefit from Total Body Photography.

These are sometimes called atypical moles or dysplastic naevi.

They may be:

• larger than normal moles
• uneven in shape
• different shades of brown
• irregular around the edges

The problem is that an unusual mole can sometimes look worrying even when it is harmless.

If someone has many unusual moles, it can be hard to know which ones are truly changing.

This is where photographs can help.

Your doctor can compare how a mole looks now with how it looked before.

If it has stayed the same for a long time, that can be useful information.

If it has clearly changed, your doctor may want to examine it more closely.

What is the difference between Total Body Photography and dermoscopy?

These two tools are often used together, but they do different jobs.

Total Body Photography looks at the bigger picture.

It shows where your spots are and helps identify new or changing lesions over time.

Dermoscopy looks closely at one individual spot.

A doctor uses a special magnifying tool called a dermatoscope to see structures inside the skin that cannot be seen clearly with the naked eye.

A simple way to think about it is:

Total Body Photography asks:
“Has anything changed?”

Dermoscopy asks:
“Does this particular spot look suspicious?”

For some high-risk patients, using both methods can provide better monitoring.

Should immunosuppressed patients have Total Body Photography?

This depends on the person.

People with weakened immune systems can have a higher risk of skin cancer.

This includes some people who:

• have had an organ transplant
• take medicines that suppress the immune system
• have certain medical conditions that affect the immune system

Skin cancer risk is especially high in some organ transplant patients.

However, being immunosuppressed does not automatically mean you need Total Body Photography.

The decision also depends on what your skin looks like.

For example, an immunosuppressed person with only a few moles may benefit more from regular full skin examinations.

On the other hand, someone who has had an organ transplant and also has 50 or 60 moles may benefit more from photographic monitoring.

So the important point is:

Immunosuppression is one risk factor. Your doctor should look at your whole skin cancer risk, not just one part of it.

Can Total Body Photography find melanoma?

Total Body Photography can help doctors spot changes that could be melanoma, but it cannot confirm whether a spot is cancer.

If a doctor sees a new or changing lesion in the photographs, they may examine it with dermoscopy.

If the spot looks suspicious, they may recommend a biopsy or removal.

The tissue can then be tested under a microscope.

That is how melanoma is diagnosed.

So TBP does not replace medical examination.

Instead, it helps your doctor decide which spots may need closer attention.

Can Total Body Photography help avoid unnecessary biopsies?

Sometimes.

One of the useful things about having old photos is that they can show when a mole has stayed the same.

If a spot looks unusual but has not changed over several visits, that information may help your doctor make a better decision.

However, Total Body Photography does not guarantee that you will avoid biopsies.

If a spot looks suspicious, your doctor may still recommend removing or testing it.

The goal is not to avoid every biopsy.

The goal is to make better decisions about which spots need investigation.

Is Total Body Photography the same as an AI skin scan?

No.

Some modern photography systems use advanced cameras, 3D imaging or computer software.

Some can help doctors track spots over time.

But this does not mean a computer can safely tell you whether you have melanoma.

Photographs and software should support a trained medical professional, not replace one.

A doctor still needs to look at your skin, assess your risk and examine any suspicious spots.

Who may not need Total Body Photography?

Not everyone needs TBP.

If you have:

• only a few moles
• no history of melanoma
• no strong family history
• no major melanoma risk factors

then Total Body Photography may not add much to your care.

You may still need normal skin checks depending on your individual risk.

The best approach is to ask your doctor whether photographic monitoring would actually help in your situation.

How often should Total Body Photography be done?

There is no single schedule that suits everyone.

Some people may need regular skin checks every six or twelve months.

Others may need to be seen more often.

It is also important to understand that you may not need a completely new set of photographs at every visit.

Your first set of photographs can often be used as a baseline for comparison over time.

Your doctor can decide when new images are needed.

Your follow-up plan may depend on:

• whether you have had melanoma before
• how many moles you have
• whether your moles are changing
• your age
• your family history
• your overall skin cancer risk

Do I still need to check my own skin?

Yes.

Total Body Photography does not mean you can stop paying attention to your skin.

You should still become familiar with your own spots and moles.

See a doctor if you notice a spot that:

• is new
• is changing
• grows quickly
• changes colour
• becomes uneven
• bleeds
• becomes sore
• looks very different from your other spots

If you notice a concerning change, do not wait until your next routine photography appointment.

Get it checked.

So, who really needs Total Body Photography?

Total Body Photography is most useful for people who are at higher risk of melanoma and have skin that is difficult to monitor.

It may be especially useful if you:

• have had melanoma before
• have a lot of moles
• have many atypical or unusual moles
• have a strong family history of melanoma
• have several melanoma risk factors
• have had an organ transplant and also have many moles
• are immunosuppressed and have other melanoma risk factors

For these people, a set of baseline photos can make future skin checks much more useful.

Instead of relying on memory, your doctor can compare your skin with how it actually looked in the past.

That can make it easier to notice something that is truly new or changing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does everyone who has had melanoma need Total Body Photography?

Not necessarily.

But if you have had melanoma before, it is worth asking your doctor about it.

It may be especially helpful if you also have lots of moles or unusual-looking moles.

How many moles do you need before Total Body Photography is useful?

There is no perfect number.

Some expert groups recommend considering digital monitoring for people with around 60 or more moles.

People with more than 40 moles may also benefit if they have other risk factors.

However, your doctor should look at your overall risk rather than just counting moles.

Is Total Body Photography useful for atypical moles?

Yes, it can be.

If you have many unusual-looking moles, old photographs can help your doctor see which spots are stable and which ones are changing.

Do organ transplant patients need Total Body Photography?

Some may benefit from it, especially if they also have lots of moles.

Organ transplant patients have a higher risk of skin cancer because of the medicines used to suppress the immune system.

However, TBP is not automatically needed for every transplant patient.

Can Total Body Photography tell me if a mole is cancer?

No.

It can help identify a spot that is new or changing.

A doctor still needs to examine the lesion, and sometimes a biopsy is needed to diagnose melanoma.

Does Total Body Photography replace a skin check?

No.

TBP should be used as part of a skin monitoring plan.

It does not replace a full skin examination or dermoscopy.

Is Total Body Photography only for people with melanoma?

No.

You do not need to have had melanoma before to benefit from TBP.

It may also be useful if you have lots of moles, many atypical moles, a strong family history or other important melanoma risk factors.

The Bottom Line

Total Body Photography is not necessary for everyone.

But for people at higher risk of melanoma, especially those with lots of moles, it can be a very useful way to keep track of the skin over time.

It is particularly worth discussing if you:

have had melanoma before, have many moles, have unusual moles, have a strong melanoma risk, or are immunosuppressed and have other risk factors.

The biggest advantage is simple.

It gives you and your doctor something to compare with.

Instead of wondering:

“Was that spot there last year?”

you may be able to look back and know.

If you think you may be at higher risk of melanoma, speak with a doctor experienced in skin cancer about whether Total Body Photography should be part of your regular skin checks.

This information is general only and does not replace medical advice. If you notice a new, changing or unusual spot, have it checked by a qualified healthcare professional.