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)