Mole and skin lesion checks
An examination of a mole or skin spot — or a wider skin check — to assess whether it looks normal or needs further tests or referral for possible skin cancer.
✓ Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant · last reviewed September 2026 · next review September 2027 · how we review
In short
- A check assesses whether a mole or skin spot looks normal or needs a biopsy or urgent referral — it is an assessment, not a treatment.
- No examination is perfect: a normal-looking check does not guarantee a lesion is harmless, so keep watching for change.
- Any new, changing, bleeding or unusual lesion should be checked; a suspicious mole belongs on a skin-cancer pathway, not a cosmetic removal list.
- If a lesion looks suspicious, it should be examined under a microscope rather than just shaved off and discarded.
A plain-English summary. The detail — including risks and recovery — is below.
At a glance
A general guide. Your GP will give you advice for your situation.
Can reassure you that a mole or spot is harmless.
A check is not a substitute for removing and examining a lesion that already looks suspicious — that needs a biopsy on a proper pathway.
You usually receive an opinion straight away: harmless, watch and monitor, or needs a biopsy or urgent referral.
A clear opinion and written advice on what to watch for and when to return.
You usually receive an opinion straight away: harmless, watch and monitor, or needs a biopsy or urgent referral.
A small wound is dressed and you are told how to care for it; the sample goes to the laboratory.
Laboratory results typically take from several days to a couple of weeks; you should be told how and when you will...
A suspicious lesion is referred on an urgent suspected-cancer pathway, where a specialist examines it and arranges...
What is a mole and skin lesion check?
A mole and skin lesion check is an examination of the skin to assess a spot, mole or growth you are worried about, or to look over your skin more generally. It is carried out by a GP, a GP with a special interest in skin, or a dermatologist.
The clinician looks at the size, shape, colour and any change in the lesion, often using a handheld magnifier with a light called a dermoscope, which shows patterns under the surface. Some clinics offer 'mole mapping', where photographs are taken so moles can be compared over time. A check can reassure you that something is harmless, or identify a lesion that needs a biopsy or an urgent referral.
The doctor may use the ABCDE guide as a prompt for moles: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Colour variation, Diameter (larger or growing), and Evolving (changing). Any new, changing or unusual mole or skin lesion should be checked.
Importantly, a check is an assessment, not a treatment. A changing or suspicious mole should go onto a proper skin-cancer pathway and be examined — not simply removed for cosmetic reasons. This guide explains what to expect and how to make sure a worrying lesion is taken seriously.
Types, options & approaches
There may be different ways to do this. The right approach depends on the clinical question and your circumstances.
Options at a glance
These are the main approaches described in this guide. The right option depends on the diagnosis, your goals and what your clinician thinks is safe.
Single lesion check
Assessment of one mole or spot you are worried about, usually with a dermoscope, to decide whether it is harmless, needs monitoring, or needs a biopsy or referral.
Full skin examination
A look over the whole skin surface, useful if you have many moles, a family or personal history of skin cancer, or extensive sun damage.
Dermoscopy
Examination with a handheld magnifier and light that reveals patterns beneath the surface, improving the accuracy of assessment in trained hands.
Mole mapping / photography
Photographs of moles, sometimes whole-body, so changes can be compared over time. Useful for people at higher risk, but it does not replace examining anything that is...
Preparing for your test
- Note when you first saw the lesion, whether it has changed, and any bleeding, itching or crusting.
- Take a photo of the lesion now so any future change can be compared.
- Remove nail varnish if a nail lesion is being checked, and avoid heavy make-up over the area.
- List your personal and family history of skin cancer and your history of sunburn or sunbed use.
- Wear or bring clothing that makes it easy to show the area; expect to undress for a full skin check.
- Bring a list of your medicines, including any that affect your immune system.
- Write down your main worry and any questions about what happens if something is found.
What happens
The clinician asks about the lesion and your history, then examines it in good light, usually with a dermoscope held against the skin. For a full skin check you will undress so the whole surface, including the scalp, between the toes and other hidden areas, can be looked at.
They will give you an opinion: the lesion looks harmless; it should be photographed and watched for change; or it looks suspicious and needs a biopsy or an urgent referral. If a biopsy or removal is appropriate, this may be arranged separately, and the sample is always sent to a laboratory for examination.
If the lesion is suspicious for skin cancer, you should be referred on an urgent suspected-cancer pathway rather than having it quietly removed and thrown away. The name and timing of this pathway vary across the UK. In England, the Faster Diagnosis Standard aims for cancer to be confirmed or ruled out within 28 days of referral; it does not guarantee a first specialist appointment within two weeks.
Is this test right for me?
A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.
May not be suitable if…
- A check is not a substitute for removing and examining a lesion that already looks suspicious — that needs a biopsy on a proper pathway.
- Photography or mole mapping alone is not enough for a lesion that is changing; it must be examined.
- A cosmetic mole-removal service is the wrong route for a lesion that could be skin cancer.
- Some lesions (for example in the mouth, eye or genital area) need assessment by the relevant specialist.
Delay or rearrange if…
- Do not delay assessment if a lesion is clearly changing, bleeding or not healing — it should be seen promptly.
- Routine, reassurance-only checks can wait if you are acutely unwell with something else.
- If you have a sunburnt or inflamed area, the appearance may be misleading until it settles.
- If a biopsy result is awaited, further removal is usually deferred until the result is known.
Alternatives to discuss
- Regular self-examination of your own skin, using photographs to track change.
- Asking your NHS GP to assess and refer a worrying lesion.
- Watchful waiting with a clear review date for low-concern lesions.
- Direct referral to a dermatologist for higher-risk people.
- Sun-protection advice and risk-reduction rather than repeated checks alone.
Before you decide
Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.
What matters most to me?
Think about symptoms, daily life, work, caring responsibilities, sport, fertility, travel, appearance and anxiety — the right choice depends on your priorities, not just the medical facts.
What are all my options?
Ask about waiting, monitoring, medicines, rehabilitation, a smaller or larger procedure, a different test, NHS referral, or a second opinion where that would help.
What would make me pause?
Active infection, pregnancy, unstable medical problems, smoking, medicines that increase bleeding, poor support at home, or feeling pressured are all reasons to slow down and get tailored advice.
What happens if I do nothing today?
For some problems, waiting is safe; for others, delay can make treatment harder. A good consultation should explain the trade-off in plain English.
Benefits
- Can reassure you that a mole or spot is harmless.
- Can pick up a suspicious lesion early, when skin cancer is most treatable.
- Dermoscopy in trained hands improves the accuracy of assessment.
- Gives you clear advice on what to watch for and when to come back.
- Mole mapping can help track change over time in higher-risk people.
- Directs anything worrying onto the right skin-cancer pathway quickly.
Risks & complications
- False reassurance — a lesion judged harmless that later changes, so ongoing self-checks still matter
- Anxiety while waiting for an opinion or biopsy result
- Finding other harmless spots that prompt extra checks
- Needing a biopsy, which leaves a small wound and scar
- A suspicious lesion being missed or under-called, delaying diagnosis
- A harmless lesion being removed unnecessarily, leaving a scar
- An inconclusive biopsy result needing a repeat or wider removal
- A melanoma or other skin cancer being mistaken for something harmless and removed without being examined under a microscope
- Significant scarring or wound problems if a lesion is removed
The main risk is being wrongly reassured. No check is perfect, so keep watching any lesion and return if it changes, even after a 'normal' result. The other key risk is a suspicious mole being shaved off or removed for cosmetic reasons and discarded rather than examined under a microscope — this can hide or delay a skin cancer diagnosis. Always ask that any removed lesion be sent for laboratory examination.
Published figures to discuss
The accuracy of a skin check depends on the clinician's training, the use of dermoscopy, and the lesion itself. No examination detects every skin cancer, and some harmless lesions look worrying. Because false-positive and false-negative rates vary widely by setting and operator, we describe these qualitatively rather than quote a single figure. The clearest message is that a normal check does not rule out future change.
| Figure | Reported range | How to interpret it | Source / confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melanoma or skin cancer missed | Low but serious | Changing, bleeding, irregular, multicoloured or new lesions need dermoscopy/specialist review or biopsy. | NHS — Skin cancer (melanoma)nhs.ukSource-linked context |
| Benign lesion removed unnecessarily | Common trade-off | Some excisions are precautionary because appearances overlap; histology gives the diagnosis. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
| Photograph or app falsely reassures | Recognised | AI/app checks should not replace clinician assessment for suspicious or changing lesions. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
| No safety-net follow-up | Avoidable | Patients should know what changes to watch for and when to return even after a reassuring check. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.
What happens afterwards
There is no physical recovery from the check itself. If a biopsy or removal is done at the same visit, there will be a small wound to care for and a result to wait for.
- No physical after-effects from the examination itself
- A small dressed wound if a biopsy or removal was done
- A wait of days to a couple of weeks for any laboratory result
- Some natural anxiety while waiting for a result
Aftercare
- Follow any wound-care advice if a biopsy or removal was done.
- Make sure you know how and when you will receive any results.
- Keep checking your skin regularly and photograph moles to track change.
- Protect your skin from the sun and avoid sunbeds.
- Return promptly if a lesion changes, bleeds, itches or does not heal — even after a normal check.
- Attend any urgent referral appointment that is arranged.
- Ask for any removed lesion to be sent for laboratory examination.
- Photos of the lesion(s) before the appointment
- Notes on any change, bleeding or itching
- Family and personal history of skin cancer
- History of sunburn and sunbed use
- List of medicines, including immune-affecting ones
- Clear plan for how results will be given
- Sun-protection plan going forward
⚠ Get urgent help if…
- A mole or spot that is changing in size, shape or colour
- A new dark, unusual or fast-growing lesion
- A sore or lesion that bleeds, crusts or does not heal after a few weeks
- A mole that becomes itchy, painful or inflamed
- A dark streak appearing in a nail
- A lesion that looks very different from your other moles (the 'ugly duckling')
- Any lesion you were told to monitor that has now changed
Who to contact: your clinician, clinic or test provider first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.
General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your GP gives you.
Results & realistic expectations
A reassuring result means the lesion looks harmless on examination, and you will be advised what to watch for. If a biopsy is taken, the laboratory result tells you what the lesion actually is — this is the only way to be certain. A suspicious lesion leads to an urgent referral and further assessment.
A normal check or even a benign biopsy cannot guarantee that no skin cancer will ever develop, and it does not cover lesions that were not examined. That is why ongoing self-checking and prompt review of any change remain important.
A skin check is a snapshot in time. New moles can appear and existing ones can change, so a normal result does not last indefinitely. People at higher risk — for example with many moles, fair skin, lots of sun damage, or a personal or family history of skin cancer — may be advised to have regular checks and to monitor their skin between visits.
Related tests, treatments or support
A check is often combined with dermoscopy and, where helpful, photography or mole mapping. If a lesion is suspicious, examination is combined with a biopsy or removal and laboratory analysis. A check may also lead to advice on sun protection and on examining your own skin.
Follow-up & long-term care
If a lesion is being monitored, you should be told when to return and what change to look for. If a biopsy is taken, you should know how and when results will be given and who to contact. A suspicious lesion is followed up urgently through the skin-cancer pathway. After a benign result, keep checking your skin and return if anything changes.
- Check your own skin regularly, using photos to spot change.
- Protect your skin from the sun and avoid sunbeds.
- Attend any recommended repeat checks if you are at higher risk.
- Return promptly if any lesion changes, regardless of a previous result.
Repeat, follow-on and what comes next
- A lesion judged harmless may still need re-checking if it changes.
- A biopsy can be inconclusive and need repeating or a wider removal.
- A lesion under monitoring may later need removal if it evolves.
- Early-stage melanoma is highly treatable, which is why prompt re-assessment of any change matters.
Ask what happens if the result is unclear or needs repeating, and what is included if further tests or follow-up are needed.
What good aftercare looks like
- A clear opinion and written advice on what to watch for and when to return.
- A defined process for any biopsy result and a named contact.
- Prompt urgent referral for any suspicious lesion, with confirmation it has been made.
- Any removed lesion sent for laboratory examination as a matter of routine.
- Sun-protection advice and guidance on self-examination.
What affects the cost
Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:
- Whether you use the NHS or a private clinic.
- Whether it is a single-lesion check or a full skin examination.
- Whether dermoscopy, photography or mole mapping is included.
- Whether a biopsy or removal is needed, and the laboratory fee for analysis.
- Who performs the check — GP, GP with a special interest, or consultant dermatologist.
- Any follow-up appointment to discuss results or monitor a lesion.
- The fee for the check and what it includes (single lesion or full skin).
- Whether dermoscopy and any photography are included.
- The cost of a biopsy or removal and the laboratory analysis, if needed.
- How and when results are given and by whom.
- What happens, and any extra cost, if an urgent referral is required.
- Whether a follow-up or monitoring visit is included.
On the NHS? Urgent assessment and referral for a suspicious mole or skin lesion are available free on the NHS; private checks are mainly used for speed, routine mole mapping or reassurance.
You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including reports, follow-up and what happens if the result is inconclusive — before you decide.
Consent traps and marketing red flags
These are not small details. They are often where patients lose choice, time to reflect, or realistic expectations.
Consent traps
- Being reassured without being told that new or changing lesions can still appear.
- A lesion being removed for cosmetic reasons without being sent for laboratory examination.
- Relying on photography or an app instead of examining a changing lesion.
- Not being given a clear plan for results, monitoring or referral.
- Not being told who sees the report and how to follow it up.
Marketing red flags
- Claims that a scan, app or 'full-body mole map' catches every skin cancer.
- Offering to remove moles purely cosmetically without assessment or histology.
- Pressure to buy a package of repeat checks regardless of your actual risk.
- No clear route to urgent referral if something suspicious is found.
Choosing a specialist safely
- Check the GP is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
- Make sure they work at a CQC-registered service, and look for membership of the relevant Royal College or professional body.
- You're entitled to time to consider and to have your questions answered before you agree — the GP who looks after you should explain it, not a salesperson.
- Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
- You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including any follow-up — before you decide.
Questions to ask your medical professional
Take this to your consultation. A good GP will welcome every one of these.
- What do you think this lesion is, and does it need a biopsy or referral?
- Will you use a dermoscope, and what does it show?
- If you remove anything, will it be sent to the laboratory for examination?
- What change should make me come back, even if this looks normal now?
- Given my history and skin type, how often should I be checked?
- How and when will I get any results, and who do I contact with concerns?
- Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
- Will you be the GP who carries out my test, and who looks after me afterwards?
- What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
- What does a realistic result look like — and what can this test not achieve?
- What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
- Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
- What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a mole checked on the NHS?
Does a normal check mean my mole is definitely harmless?
What is the ABCDE rule?
Should a worrying mole just be removed to be safe?
Is dermoscopy or mole mapping better than a normal look?
How long do biopsy results take?
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How we made this page
Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →
Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.
Sources & standards: NHS — Skin cancer (melanoma) NICE NG12 — Suspected cancer: recognition and referral (skin) British Association of Dermatologists — Melanoma patient information Primary Care Dermatology Society — Melanoma: an overview NICE CKS — Melanoma and pigmented lesions NHS England — Cancer waiting times guidance (Faster Diagnosis Standard)
Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.
Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.
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