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What are moles and why can they become malignant?

Moles, also known as nevi, are very common growths of pigmenting cells in the skin. The cells that produce pigment are called melanocytes. The density of melanocytes in the skin determines the lightness/darkness of your skin tone. Melanocytes also protect the DNA of skin cells from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

Moles can be either from birth (congenital) or develop over the years (acquired). Moles can become “rare” (atypical) or even turn into “bad moles”, the dreaded melanoma, a skin cancer formed by an abnormal proliferation of melanocytes.

Why is it important to track moles digitally?

Until 30 years ago, the diagnosis of melanoma was based solely on clinical examination and the “ABCD” rule (asymmetry, irregular borders, different colors, diameter greater than 6mm).

The introduction of dermoscopy has allowed the observation of structures and colors that would otherwise not be visible to the naked eye, increasing the accuracy in diagnosing a malignant lesion.

Dermoscopy is a non-invasive technique that involves the visualization of pigmented skin lesions through a hand-held lens, dermatoscope or video imaging system.

Digital dermoscopy consists of the sequential capture of dermoscopy images to identify the appearance of new moles and to determine whether existing moles show microscopic changes.

The ability to identify an early change in a mole is crucial to diagnose incipient melanoma, which is susceptible to cure in the early stages of the disease.

How often should digital dermoscopy be performed?

The frequency with which digital dermoscopy should be performed varies according to the clinical characteristics of each patient. Patients at increased risk of developing melanoma require close digital follow-up every three months while individuals with multiple atypical moles should be checked every 6 to 12 months.

Digital dermoscopy is a very useful dermatological diagnostic technique, especially for patients with multiple pigmented lesions or moles. This test allows the detection of melanomas in the early stages, even in the absence of specific clinical criteria for malignancy.