Dermatoscopy Examination

Service Description

WHAT IT IS A dermatoscopy examination at Dr Selvi Clinic in Brighton is a doctor's check of a mole or skin lesion that concerns you. Using a handheld dermatoscope with magnification and polarised light, Dr Selvi looks at structures beneath the skin surface to judge whether a lesion looks benign, needs monitoring or needs urgent referral. If a mole is changing, growing, bleeding or itching, see your GP — do not wait for a private appointment. Your GP can refer you on the NHS urgent suspected cancer pathway, which is free and is the right route. A private check is useful for reassurance, surveillance and speed of assessment, but it does not replace that referral. Dermatoscopy (also called dermoscopy) shows patterns in pigment, blood vessels and colour that cannot be seen with the naked eye, and helps tell most harmless lesions from concerning ones more reliably than looking alone. It is a clinical assessment tool, not a definitive diagnosis: the only definitive answer for a suspicious lesion is laboratory examination (histology) after removal. WHY PEOPLE CHOOSE IT People book for a mole that has changed, a new spot that does not look like their others, or simply to have a doctor look properly and give a clear answer. The same technique is also used to examine the scalp when hair loss is being assessed. WHAT WE AIM FOR A clear outcome at the end of the visit: benign and no action needed; benign but worth photographing and reviewing in three to six months; or suspicious and needing urgent referral. If anything looks suspicious, Dr Selvi will tell you plainly and make sure you are on the right pathway. WHO IT SUITS · A mole or spot that is new, or looks different from your others · Fair skin that burns easily, red or blond hair, or freckling · Many moles, or several unusual ones · A personal or family history of melanoma or other skin cancer · Past sunbed use or severe sunburn, especially in childhood · Immunosuppression, including after an organ transplant · Outdoor work or long hours on the water along the Sussex coast TREATMENT DETAILS Appointment: A face-to-face examination with Dr Selvi Equipment: DermLite handheld dermatoscope with magnification and polarised light Needles: None — the dermatoscope rests on the skin Images: Dermoscopic images recorded for comparison at a later visit Outcome: A clear written outcome and next steps Recovery: Not needed; this is an examination, not a treatment Related: Mole Mapping & Monitoring; high-frequency skin ultrasound (booked separately) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Should I see my GP instead? If a mole is changing, growing, bleeding or itching, or a sore has not healed within four weeks, see your GP promptly. If we see something suspicious at the clinic, we will tell you directly and make sure you are on the urgent pathway. Can dermatoscopy rule out skin cancer? No examination can do that with certainty. Dermatoscopy improves accuracy in trained hands, but histology after removal is the only definitive answer. Smartphone apps that assess moles from photographs are not a substitute for an examination. What happens during the appointment? Dr Selvi asks about sun exposure, sunbed use, family history, medicines that affect immunity and any changes you have noticed. He examines the lesion you are worried about and usually the surrounding skin, carries out dermoscopy, records images and explains the outcome. What should I look out for between checks? Use the ABCDE guide: Asymmetry, irregular Border, more than one Colour, Diameter over about 6mm, and Evolving — any change in size, shape, colour or surface. Also look for the mole that does not match the others, a scaly patch that keeps returning, and a shiny lump that bleeds easily. Will you remove the mole? Pigmented lesions are not removed for cosmetic reasons alone. If removal or further assessment is needed, Dr Selvi explains the options, including referral, and anything removed is sent for histology. Are there any risks? The examination itself is non-invasive. Its main limitation is that it is an assessment rather than a diagnosis, and a reassuring result applies to the lesions examined on that day. Keep checking your skin, and come back or see your GP if anything changes. Who should not rely on a private check? Anyone with a lesion that is changing quickly, bleeding or not healing should see their GP for urgent referral rather than wait for a private appointment. Who will treat me? All treatments at Dr Selvi Clinic are carried out by Dr Selvi, a doctor, after a face-to-face consultation and an assessment of your suitability. BOOKING Book online, or start with a free initial consultation if you are unsure whether a single-lesion check or mole monitoring suits you. Dr Selvi Clinic is at 57B London Road, Brighton and Hove BN1 4JE, open 10:00–20:00, seven days a week; appointment times can vary. Fees are listed on our pricing page, and your plan and final fee are confirmed at consultation.