Skin Cancer Screening (Mole Mapping) in London, Ontario
What is mole mapping?
Mole mapping is the process of photographing and documenting the moles on your body in a standardized way so they can be compared over time. The images form a baseline record. At each follow up the same areas are captured in the same position, lighting, and colour reference, so a mole that has grown, darkened, or changed shape is identified by comparison rather than by memory.
Mole mapping is also called total body photography or skin surveillance photography. The purpose is monitoring change, which is the single most reliable early warning sign in skin cancer detection.
What it involves at our London clinic:
- A consultation and chart review with your nurse practitioner
- Standardized capture of your moles in a fixed, repeatable setup
- A secure digital baseline stored for future comparison
- Side by side comparison at every follow up visit
- A review of findings and clear next steps, in plain language
Who should consider a skin cancer screening
Screening is worth booking if you:
- Have a personal or family history of melanoma or other skin cancers
- Have been told you have a dysplastic nevus or atypical mole syndrome
- Have a lot of moles (more than 50 is a rough guide)
- Have fair skin, light eyes, or tend to burn rather than tan
- Have had melanoma or another skin cancer removed before
- Take medication or have a condition that suppresses your immune system
Know the warning signs: the ABCDEs of melanoma
The most common signs of melanoma are asymmetry, an irregular border, uneven colour, a diameter larger than 6 mm, and any mole that is evolving. Dermatologists summarize these as the ABCDE rule.
- A. Asymmetry. One half of the mole does not match the other.
- B. Border. Edges that are ragged, blurred, or uneven.
- C. Colour. More than one colour, or shades that change.
- D. Diameter. Larger than about 6 mm (roughly a pencil eraser), though smaller ones can matter too.
- E. Evolving. Any change in size, shape, or colour, or a mole that starts to itch, bleed, or crust.
If you notice any of these, book an assessment rather than waiting for your next imaging session.
Why our imaging system
Standardised and repeatable
The system controls lighting, camera height, framing, and zoom, so each visit's photos are captured the same way. That consistency is what makes comparison over time trustworthy.
Aligned comparisons
Its MatchPose feature lines up each new photo with your earlier one, so you compare the same view instead of two slightly different angles.
Polarised, glare-free detail
Cross-polarised lighting cuts the shine off the skin's surface and brings out detail that glare would normally hide.
Colour-enhanced views
Dedicated views draw out patterns of pigment (the brown of a mole) and areas of redness and surface vessels, which makes changes easier to see and discuss.
A secure digital record
Your images are stored securely and kept as your baseline, ready to compare at follow-up.
You can see it too
Side-by-side images make your own skin easy to understand, so you leave the visit with a clear view of what is being followed.
What is digital skin imaging?
Digital skin imaging is the technology that makes mole mapping reliable. Instead of an ordinary photograph, the skin is captured in multiple modes: a standard view, a polarized view that removes surface glare, a pigment view that isolates melanin, and a redness view that highlights vascular activity.
Consistent colour calibration means a colour change you see in the images is a real change in the mole, not a change in the room lighting.
Digital imaging is one part of a wider melanoma screening approach, which combines a clinical examination, magnified assessment of anything atypical, and a dated photographic record you can compare against later.
How it works
Consultation and risk review
Your nurse practitioner talks through your history, any moles you are concerned about, and which areas you want to follow. No referral is needed.
Standardised capture
Your imaging and assessment are carried out by our medical staff, with care overseen by Pinkal Gandhi, Nurse Practitioner (registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario). No referral is needed, there's no long wait, and most people are seen the same week.
Your baseline is saved
Your images are stored securely as a baseline you can return to.
Compare at follow-up
At later visits, new images are lined up against your baseline so changes in a mole's size, shape, or colour are easier to spot.
Review and next steps
Your NP reviews the images with you. If something looks like it should be examined more closely, she will advise on next steps, which may include a biopsy or removal.
What the imaging can show
Standard view
A clear, calibrated photograph of the skin surface.
Polarised view
Cuts glare to reveal detail beneath the shine.
Pigment view
Draws out patterns of pigment for easier comparison
Redness view
Highlights redness and vessels near the surface.
Side-by-side
Two dated images of the same mole, shown together so change is easy to see.
What mole mapping can and can't do
Digital skin imaging is a monitoring and documentation tool. It is very good at showing whether something has changed over time. It is not a test for skin cancer. It does not diagnose, it does not detect on its own, and it cannot tell you that you are in the clear. If a spot looks concerning, the decision about what it is, and whether it needs a biopsy, belongs to your nurse practitioner, not to a camera.
That is also the clearest difference between imaging and a specialist visit. We break down how mole mapping compares to seeing a dermatologist in Ontario, including referral rules, wait times, and which route fits a mole that is already changing.
Please note (disclaimer card): Mole mapping and digital skin imaging are surveillance and monitoring tools. They do not diagnose skin cancer and cannot guarantee that you are free of skin cancer or any other condition. They support, but do not replace, clinical skin examinations and any biopsies your clinician recommends.
How often should you have it done?
For most people, once a year is a good interval, which gives a year-on-year record to compare.
If you are at higher risk, such as a strong family history, many atypical moles, or a previous skin cancer, your nurse practitioner may suggest doing it more often.
There is no single schedule that fits everyone, so your NP will recommend an interval based on your skin and history. In between visits, keep using the ABCDE checklist and book sooner if something changes.
In between visits, keep using the ABCDE checklist and book sooner if something changes. For a risk-by-risk breakdown of how often you should get your moles checked, including when six months is more appropriate than twelve, see our full guide.
Preparing for your appointment
A few small things help us capture the clearest images:
- Come with clean skin and no makeup on the areas being photographed
- Remove nail polish if your nails are being included
- Tie long hair back so the hairline and neck are visible
- Wear or bring comfortable clothing you can adjust for the areas you want imaged
- Make a note of any moles that are new, changing, or that you would like reviewed
Most patients book imaging alongside a clinical skin check, so it is worth knowing what a full body skin exam includes and which areas get checked that you cannot see yourself.
What it costs
Mole Mapping & Digital Skin Imaging $695 + HST per session Introductory offer: the first 20 clients save $200, so $495 + HST Payment is due at the time of booking Private-pay. No referral needed. Not covered by OHIP.
Before you book anywhere, it is worth knowing what separates real skin surveillance from a one-off photo session. Our checklist on how to compare mole check clinics in London, Ontario sets out the eight questions to ask, including how images are stored and who reviews them.
What happens at your screening appointment
Skin cancer screening at Pinkal Medical Aesthetics starts with a clinical conversation and uses digital mole mapping to give it an exact, comparable record. Here's how a visit runs:
- Consultation and chart review — Your nurse practitioner talks through your history, any moles you're concerned about, and which areas need close attention.
- Standardized capture — Images are taken in a fixed position with consistent lighting and a colour reference, so later comparisons hold up.
- Your baseline is saved — Images are stored securely as the reference point for every future visit.
- Comparison at follow-up — The same regions are captured again and placed side by side, so change is something you can see, not something you're asked to remember.
- Review and next steps — You get a plain-language explanation of what was found, and a referral if anything needs a biopsy.
Why Choose Pinkal Medical Aesthetics for Skin cancer Screening in London, Ontario
Nurse Practitioner-Led Care, No Referral Required
A College of Nurses of Ontario-registered NP handles your imaging and assessment - no referral, no existing-patient requirement.
Seen Within One Week
We hold dedicated appointment capacity for skin screening, so most patients are booked and seen within a week.
Purpose-Built Imaging
Standardized positioning, calibrated colour, polarized capture, and four imaging modes, repeatable at every visit.
Same Setup, Same Clinician, Every Time
Nothing changes between visits except your skin. That's what makes the comparison meaningful.
Two Locations in London, Ontario
Pinkal Medical & Aesthetics and South London Mole Clinic, both open six days a week.
Honest About What Imaging Can't Do
A photo doesn't rule out cancer. We track change, and if something needs a biopsy, we say so and arrange it.
Mole mapping vs. a regular mole check vs. seeing a dermatologist in Ontario
Comparison of family doctor, dermatologist referral, and mole mapping at Pinkal
Early signs of skin cancer to watch for between appointments
Imaging gives you a baseline. Your own attention between visits is what catches change early. Watch for:
- A mole that has changed size, shape, or colour in the last few months
- A new mole appearing after your 30s
- A mole that itches, bleeds, crusts, or will not heal
- A sore or spot that keeps returning in the same place
- A mole that looks clearly different from every other mole on your body
- Any lesion that feels raised, firm, or tender when it did not before
None of these confirms skin cancer. All of them are worth a look, and all of them are far easier to assess when we already have your baseline images on file.
For the wider picture, including how basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas present differently, see our guide to the early signs of skin cancer.
Why our imaging beats phone photos
Standardized and repeatable
Same position, height, framing, and zoom on every visit, so any difference you see is a real difference in the mole.
Aligned comparisons
Matched images let us compare the same mole from one visit to the next without guesswork.
Polarized, glare free detail
Surface shine is removed so structure and detail are visible.
Colour consistent
A calibrated colour reference means a colour shift is not just different lighting.
A secure digital record
Your images are retained safely and are ready for comparison or follow up.
You can see it too
Side by side images make your own skin easier to understand, not just easier for us to assess.
How often should you get your moles checked?
Most people benefit from a mole check once a year, with a repeat imaging session at 6 to 12 months if you are higher risk or if a specific mole is being monitored
How to prepare for your mole mapping appointment
- Come with clean skin, no makeup, self tanner, or heavy moisturizer on the areas being photographed
- Remove nail polish if nails are being included
- Tie long hair back so the hairline and neck are visible
- Wear or bring comfortable clothing you can adjust for the areas being imaged
- Make a note of any moles that are new, changing, or that you would like looked at first
What mole mapping can and cannot do
- What it does: gives you and your clinician an accurate, dated record of what your skin looked like, so change is detected sooner and decisions are based on evidence.
- What it does not do: imaging is not a diagnosis. It does not replace a clinical examination, and it does not replace a biopsy. If something needs to be tested, it needs to be tested. Photographs support that process, they do not substitute for it.
Mole mapping vs. a regular mole check vs. seeing a dermatologist in Ontario
The three are not competing options, they answer different questions. A mole check is the clinical examination. Mole mapping is the dated photographic record that makes the next examination more useful. A dermatologist provides specialist assessment and biopsy access, usually after a referral.
- Mole check: a clinician looks at your skin today. No record carried forward unless imaging is added.
- Mole mapping: standardised imaging stored as a baseline, so change is measured rather than remembered. No referral needed.
- Dermatologist: specialist exam and biopsy, typically referral-based, with wait times that vary across Ontario.
Most patients end up using more than one over time. Our full comparison of mole mapping and dermatology in Ontario covers referral rules, typical waits, and which route fits which situation.
Frequently asked questions (accordion)
Is mole mapping the same as a skin cancer test?
No. Mole mapping is photography used to monitor your skin over time. It does not diagnose or detect skin cancer on its own. Your nurse practitioner examines your skin and advises on any next steps, which may include a biopsy.
How is mole mapping different from a regular mole or skin check?
A mole check is the clinical examination, where your NP looks at your skin. Mole mapping is the standardised photography that goes with it, giving you a baseline to compare against at future visits. They work well together, and many people do both.
Does it hurt, or involve any radiation?
No. Mole mapping with IntelliStudio is simply photography. There is no incision, no needle, and no radiation or X-rays of any kind. Most sessions take only a few minutes and there is no downtime
How often should I repeat mole mapping?
Once a year suits most people, and higher risk patients are often advised to return every six months. Your interval should follow a clinical assessment rather than a default, and our guide on mole check frequency by risk level explains what shortens it.
The technology behind your screening (mole mapping)
Digital skin imaging, or mole mapping, is what makes the screening measurable instead of just visual. It captures your skin in standardized lighting and colour reference, so a real change over time is visible rather than something you are trying to recall from your last visit.
- Standardized and repeatable — Same position, height, framing, and zoom every visit.
- Aligned comparisons — New images line up against your earlier ones, so differences stand out on their own.
- Polarized, glare-free detail — Cross-polarized lighting removes surface shine so structure underneath is visible.
- Colour consistent — A calibrated colour reference means a shift on screen reflects a real change, not different lighting.
- A secure digital record — Images are stored and ready to compare at your next visit.
- You can see it too — Side-by-side images make it easy for you to follow along, not just your clinician.
The system can also isolate standard, pigment, polarized, and surface-vessel views of a single mole, and line up two dated images of the same mole side by side.