Visit Private GP Services in Chelmsford

After your carefree summer holiday abroad, a few more of those freckles and moles could well have cropped up. Now is the time when new moles will be revealed, while others may have grown or changed shape. While these may seem innocuous, such changes can signify all is not well and, if left untreated, can turn deadly!

Nearly half of Brits find it difficult to check their moles properly when they are in hard to reach places such as on their back. Over one in ten say they don’t check their moles because they have too many to look at! This is why we are encouraging you to ask a partner or friend to look for the early warning signs of skin cancer. It only takes a few minutes to do, it’s so quick and easy it can even be done when you’re getting ready for a girly night out.

Everyone has moles; some of us have more than others and the number depends on our genes and sun exposure. Moles sometimes appear in “crops”, especially during the early teens. Exposure to strong sunlight can cause moles to enlarge and new moles to grow, which is an additional reason to wear a high SPF sunscreen and avoid the midday sun.

When a mole develops, it usually stays for many years without becoming a problem. On the other-hand if it markedly changes in size, has a ragged edge, contains different colours, is inflamed or has a red edge, is bleeding, oozing or crusting, feels funny or itches, have it checked immediately. Any potentially dangerous moles are commonly identified via visual diagnosis by GPs, who simply rely on experience to assess whether a mole should be looked at by a specialist.

However, here at Private GP Services, diagnosis has gone state-of-the-art. We have MoleMate, a non-invasive, rapid and painless melanoma screening device which comprises a hand-held scanner, and software that uses SIAscopy, the skin imaging technology that scans and visualises haemoglobin, melanin, dermal melanin and collagen up to 2mm under the skin. This enables the GP to give an instant decision either to refer for removal of the mole, or reassure the patient immediately that the mole is not suspect.

Malignant melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer and the number of new cases in the UK has doubled in the last 20 years.
For immediate diagnosis
call Private GP Services
01245 234134