Skin check/ Mole mapping

The incidence of both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer and keeps rising in recent years in all developed countries. Early detection is of utmost importance since skin cancer is curable if detected early enough. Melanoma can arise from inconspicuous moles or moles that have suddenly appeared.

For clinical evaluation and documentation, we use state-of-the-art Fotofinder ® technology to help you monitor your moles and birthmarks, even in areas you are not able to see. Digital mole mapping is the most advanced method for early skin cancer detection.

Am I a high-risk patient?

  • Are you a light skin type that reacts sensitively to sunlight?
  • Do you have a particularly large number of moles?
  • Do you have large congenital moles?
  • Do you have atypical moles or moles that have recently changed?
  • Did you get sunburns as a child or adolescent?
  • Is there a history of skin cancer in your family?
  • Did you already have skin cancer?
  • Are you exposed to strong sunlight or UV rays at regular intervals?

 

When should I take caution?

  • Newly developed moles
  • Changes in color
  • Changes in size
  • Change in the surrounding area of moles, e.g. redness, white discoloration, welling
  • Unusual sensations, e.g. itchiness, burning, foreign body sensation
  • Bleeding moles

When should I take caution?

Newly developed moles


Changes in color


Changes in size


Change in the surrounding area
of moles, e.g. redness, white discoloration, welling


Unusual sensations, e.g. itchiness, burning, foreign body sensation


Bleeding moles

The A-B-C-D-E of moles

If one of your moles shows any of the following characteristics please contact us.

A. Asymmetry (irregular shape)

B. Borders (blurred, fringed, jagged)

C. Color (irregular color)

D. Diameter > 5 mm

E. Elevation (uneven surface) or also Evolution (changes of the mole)

Μελανοκυτταρικοί Σπίλοι (Ελιές)

Οι μελανοκυτταρικοι σπίλοι (ελιές) διακρίνονται σε συγγενείς που υπάρχουν από την γέννηση και σε επίκτητους που εμφανίζονται όσο περνούν τα χρόνια. Οι περισσότεροι είναι εντελώς ακίνδυνοι και ο αριθμός τους εξαρτάται από παράγοντες γενετικούς αλλά και ως αποτέλεσμα της έκθεσης στον ήλιο. Κύριος λόγος να ασχοληθούμε μαζί τους είναι η συσχέτισή τους με το μελάνωμα, μία δερματική κακοήθεια που αυξάνει διαρκώς σε συχνότητα τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες.

Για αυτό και η συστηματική εκπαίδευση του πληθυσμού στην αυτοεξέταση για την αναγνώριση ύποπτων για μελάνωμα σπίλων είναι καθοριστικής σημασίας για την έγκαιρη διάγνωση. Σε ασθενείς υψηλού κινδύνου η αυτοεξέταση πρέπει να συνδυάζεται με τακτική προληπτική εξέταση από δερματολόγο, χωρίς αυτό να σημαίνει ότι οι περισσότεροι ασθενείς δεν θα ωφεληθούν από μια περιοδική προληπτική εξέταση.

Λόγω της συσχέτισης των μελανοκυτταρικών σπίλων με το μελάνωμα συνίσταται σε όλους η τριμηνιαία αυτοεξέταση με βάση τον μνημοτεχνικό κανόνα A-B-C-D-E ενώ στους ασθενείς υψηλού κινδύνου η αυτοεξέταση πρέπει να συνδυάζεται με τακτικό προληπτικό έλεγχο από δερματολόγο.

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Dermoscopy

Dermoscopy is an essential tool for the early diagnosis of skin cancer, valuable in the hands of the experienced dermoscopy-trained dermatologist. Dermoscopy performed by experts results in enhanced accuracy of diagnosis, with increased sensitivity and specificity for the detection of early melanoma and other skin malignancies. Dermoscopy can be nowadays seen as the dermatologists’ stethoscope, increasing the physician’s confidence in the diagnostic approach of clinically uncertain lesions, thus reducing the number of unneeded skin biopsies.

In recent years dermoscopy has become increasingly useful also in the diagnostic approach of inflammatory skin disorders, the most recent development being the emerging method of Trichoscopy for the clinical evaluation without a biopsy of hair disorders.

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Digital mole mapping (Fotofinder®)

For skin cancer detection and digital mole mapping we use the state-of-the-art Fotinder ® system. We help you monitor your moles, even in areas you are unable to see. Skin cancer prevention with Fotofinder® provides:

  • Long-term storage and monitoring of each individual mole
  • Regular check-ups will show even the slightest of changes at an early stage
  • Algorithm based digital analysis for malignancy
  • Avoidance of unnecessary surgery
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Actinic keratosis/Field cancerization

Actinic keratosis is the most common precancerous lesion of the skin, induced by sun exposure. It looks like a reddish plaque with fine scales. With time, it may get more infiltrated and hyperkeratotic with thick scales and crusts. Actinic keratoses develop on sun exposed areas of the skin. Besides the visible lesions there are also a multitude of invisible, subclinical lesions that will further appear during time, thus justifying the modern definition of field cancerization to describe the exact extent of the cancerization process. If untreated some can resolve but others may further progress to infiltrating squamous cell carcinoma.

In recent years, a multitude of innovative topical treatments and non-surgical procedures such as photodynamic treatment have revolutionized the treatment algorithm.

After thorough clinical evaluation and consultation, we offer a patient-tailored treatment in line with major international guidelines, carefully selected from a wide selection of innovative non-surgical treatments such as photodynamic therapy, topical imiquimod, topical ingenol mebutate etc.

Photodynamic treatment (PDT)

Photodynamic therapy is a medical treatment that uses a photosensitizing agent (METVIX®) in a cream that becomes activated by red light exposure. The result is an activated oxygen molecule that can destroy nearby pathological cells resulting to selective tissue destruction. Precancerous cells and certain types of cancer cells can be treated this way. Photodynamic treatment is a reliable effective office based treatment for the non-surgical treatment of field cancerization, superficial basal cell carcinoma and Bowen’s disease. As a positive collateral effect, it helps improve discoloration as well as overall texture and tone of the skin, making it a popular and effective option for those looking to improve the overall appearance of their skin.

Daylight PDT

Daylight PDT is a major recent advance in the local treatment of actinic keratosis and field cancerization. In daylight PDT, we use the same photosensitizing agent (METVIX®) like in conventional photodynamic therapy activating it by sun light instead of high energy red light. Daylight PDT is less painful and better tolerable, ideal for the treatment of larger areas of the face, the chest or the extremities. As an approved medical treatment public and private insurances will contribute towards the cost. Especially in sunny countries like Greece daylight PDT is a great tool in the hands of the experienced dermatologist with considerable benefits for our patients with multiple actinic keratosis and field cancerization.