Hi Belfastboy,

I've dealt with (and still do deal with) my fair share of mole scares. I fear I always will. It's quite anxiety-provoking but I wouldn't rely on these apps. I can't speak to their success rate, but I've used them a bit and while I'm sure some ARE accurate, there are times where I know they were not. Also even if it is a melanoma, they aren't going to be able to detect which stage, if at all. There are so many variations. I would delete the app, but find something to keep track of photos of your moles. I believe there are ways to get professional photos of these if you were ever interested, I've had quite a few doctors insist this would be a good idea and I'll consider down the road.

Your best bet is to find a dermatologist you truly trust and get to know your body with routine checks. Rest assured most atypical moles may never grow to anything and the more serious melanomas pop up on skin out of the blue. Just because they're taking moles off, don't panic. I've had about 10-12 biopsies now and a few excisions based on their range of atypia and I'm only 30! 

If you've any questions, don't hesitate to ask, I've been through it a lot recently, so I know how anxiety provoking it can be.

x kirsty

Hi. 

Thanks for the reply. Im 30 next week and have never really considerd this at my age. The mole is new but wouldn't be symmetrical either so will have it checked out.  It's a strange feeling, I've been fairly confident in myself over the last number of years, but this has brought teenage anxiy right  back 

Hi,

Please don't put all your faith in these apps as research shows they are, at best, only 81% accurate in their detection ability. I know of two patients who used the apps and it told them their moles were low risk - it turned out to be melanoma. The apps have also been known to give false positives - which scares the hell out of people only to be told there is nothing suspicious about their moles! We had a discussion at a patient conference regarding apps and the dermatologists present said that they should only be used as a 'guideline.' If a dermatologist, plastic surgeon and histologist can't tell if a mole is cancerous until it's scientifically examined, they advise not to put all your trust in an app.

The only positive thing about apps is the ability to take magnified photos of the mole. The best thing to do is to photograph your mole with your phone or a camera & put a ruler next to the mole so it shows the size. Leave it 2 weeks and then repeat. This then shows you if there are any changes. If no change, repeat photographs every two weeks for a few more weeks.

For people with lots of moles that they are worried about keeping an eye on, Mole Mapping is available. This is only available on the NHS for melanoma patients that consultants think would benefit from it. Otherwise, you can have it done privately at most Mole Clinics - it is quite expensive I believe.

If your mole is new it's not a problem in itself as new moles that appear up to the age of 40 are usually harmless. After that age, or if younger & they look dodgy, is when you should see your GP. So make an appointment for your peace of mind. Good luck and please let us know how you get on.

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient)