Hey Finchwood Family! How is your summer going so far? It does feel a little lacklustre this year so far doesn’t it? We have seen little glimmers of the sunshine here and there, but it doesn’t really stick around for long, so fingers crossed that changes soon.
Let’s talk about protecting your skin
In the meantime, I’ve been talking to you recently about protecting your skin (check out our Instagram), particularly during the summer months with things such as a great SPF, which goes without saying, should be your number one skincare product, but it’s especially significant if you are someone who is fairer skinned, or someone who has lots of freckles or moles.
Most of us have moles
Now let’s face it most of us have moles, but some of us have LOTS and others just a few. That’s normal, we are all different and so is our skin, but what is important is that you keep an eye on your moles for any changes, may that be in shape, size, colour, or behaviour (bleeding or discharge).
I know it can be hard because those little beauties may be on areas of your body you don’t see very often, such as your back, or neck, so every now and then ask a loved one to take a quick look for you. If you have ones that you suspect might be getting bigger or changing, it’s great to keep a photo diary of them so you can really see if there are any significant changes that may need a second opinion.
If you have a mole that may be concerning you, did you know that I offer a ‘Mole Mapping’ service?
What is Mole Mapping?
Mole mapping essentially does what I’ve suggested above, it uses photographs to track any changes in your moles over a period of time. It can help spot potential troublesome moles that could be cancerous.
The purpose of mole mapping is to get an early detection of melanomas and other skin cancers, which will help prevent serious illness or loss of life. The earlier these are caught, the more likely the better the outcome.
How does it work?
If you are concerned about a mole or lesion you simply take a photo on your phone, or ask someone to do it for you and then you submit your images to us. We then send these images on to a leading UK Dermatologist, who will determine whether they feel the mole needs further investigation or not. These results are normally received with 48 hours of us submitting your images, so you aren’t waiting around for long, because let’s face it, the waiting can be agonising! You will receive a detailed report from our Dermatologist offering an insight into the nature of your mole and any further recommended steps that you may need to take.
We recently had a client submit an image of a mole that she was really concerned about and within 48 hours our Dermatologist had put her mind at ease and given her the results that it was a haemangioma (a benign non-cancerous tumour) and nothing to be concerned about.
Do I need to make any preparations?
There is very little prep involved before you have your mole mapping service, but there are a few key things to consider;
- Remove any make-up or products on your mole or lesion before taking any photographs – we need see it untouched.
- Take time to get a clear and unblurred image of the mole – it makes the analysis smoother.
- If it’s on your face or neck, please tie back your hair so it’s out of the way before taking the photograph.
- If you have fake tan over the area, please remove it as we need to see the natural colour of the mole.
- Trim any body hair on/around the lesion/mole to give us the clearest image possible.
Side effects & risks
Because mole mapping is simply capturing images of your mole there are no side effects involved, no pain or discomfort and no risk. However if your results come back that your mole maybe cancerous and need further investigation or treatment, then of course we highly recommend you take the advice of our expert Dermatologist.
Investment
If you have a mole you are concerned about our Mole Mapping service is only £80 per mole and you should have your results within 48 hours.
We all want to protect our skin and show up as our best glowing selves and that includes keeping an eye on our moles, which is why I, along with my team at Finchwood Aesthetics are here to help you do just that.
Pop us an email for your peace of mind nicola@finchwoodaestheticsandbeauty.co.uk