Mole Mapping is the most advanced melanoma surveillance programme in the world. We use the Fotofinder Leviacam which is a digital mole mapping system which takes high resolution photographs of your skin. Sophisticated software is used to generate a complete map of the positions and appearances of moles, growths and other lesions on your skin.
All lesions are meticulously documented and later compared. Mole mapping is repeated at a set interval depending on the level of suspicion of lesions. If needed, lesions can be removed. During follow-up examinations, moles previously mapped provide your doctor with a highly accurate tool to detect any changes, before they are visible to the naked eye. The earlier changes are detected, the more the likelihood of diagnosing skin cancer or melanoma promptly. Mole Mapping is non-invasive and does not hurt. Mole Mapping is safe for pregnant women. No method of melanoma assessment is 100% accurate, but this process is the best available.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is light therapy used for the treatment of skin cancer. With PDT a photosensitizing agent such as Mevix cream (methyl aminolevulinate) is applied to skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma or actinic keratosis. After 3 hours a light source is directed to each skin lesion for 7 minutes. Skin lesions heal within weeks with an excellent cosmetic result.
Punch biopsy is used to confirm the clinical diagnosis. It is a type of biopsy where a round area of skin and underlying tissue is removed using a small biopsy pen. A punch biopsy does not usually need any special preparation and does not take very long to do. It is done in the rooms. They allow the pathologist to get a full thickness view of the skin. More than one punch biopsy may be required depending on the condition being investigated.
Dermoscopy is used to examine skin lesions. Modern dermatoscopes use polarised light to cancel out skin surface reflections. This instrument is useful to dermatologists in distinguishing benign from malignant (cancerous) lesions, especially in the diagnosis of melanoma.
Intra lesional corticosteroids is a procedure involving the injection of a steroid solution into abnormal skin, with the aim of improving its appearance or reducing symptoms such as itch or pain.
Cantharidin is a chemical compound secreted by the blister beetle. The substance acts as a blister agent and is used to remove warts and to treat the small papules of Molluscum Contagiosum.
Patch test is a method used to determine whether a specific substance causes allergic inflammation of a patient’s skin. Any individual suspected of having allergic contact dermatitis and/or atopic dermatitis needs patch testing. Patch testing helps identify which substances may be causing a delayed-type allergic reaction in a patient, and may identify allergens not identified by blood testing. It is intended to produce a local allergic reaction on a small area of the patient’s back, where the diluted chemicals were planted. The chemicals included in the patch test kit include chemicals present in metals (e.g., nickel), rubber, leather, formaldehyde, lanolin, fragrance, toiletries, hair dyes, medicine, pharmaceutical items, food, drink, preservative, and other additives.