Mole check Nysa: dermoscopy and a plan for what happens next
A skin lesion that is new, changing or clearly different from the others needs an assessment, not guesswork based on a photo from the internet. During a mole check in Nysa, the dermatologist takes a history, examines the skin and may use a dermatoscope to assess structures invisible to the naked eye. The visit may end in reassurance and observation, documentation for follow-up, referral for a biopsy or another treatment appropriate to the diagnosis.
Which mole or patch should prompt a consultation?
Not every dark lesion is a melanocytic naevus, and not every melanoma looks like a large black mole. It is worth having a lesion assessed if it is new, evolving, unlike the others or causing symptoms. The absence of pain does not rule out a problem.
Evolution
The lesion grows or changes shape, border, colour or elevation. This is a particularly important signal, also when the diameter is smaller than 6 mm.
The “ugly duckling”
One lesion clearly differs from the others on the same person. The doctor compares it with that person’s individual pattern of moles, not only with a textbook picture.
Symptoms
Spontaneous bleeding, oozing, an ulcer that does not heal, new itching, pain or inflammation require assessment. An injury may draw attention to a lesion, but it should not automatically explain its appearance.
Irregularity
Asymmetry, uneven borders or several colours in one lesion are part of the ABCDE rule. These are prompts for a consultation, not a tool for diagnosing yourself.
A new lesion
A newly noticed lump, patch, streak under a nail or a lesion on the scalp, palm or sole may also need examination, regardless of sun exposure.
A lesion without pigment
Not all skin cancers are brown or black. A pink or skin-coloured, fast-growing lump may also be a reason for a prompt consultation.
The ABCDE rule has its limits. The letter D is a reminder about diameter, but a melanoma may be smaller than 6 mm. What often matters most is evolution, the difference from other lesions and a professional assessment of the whole clinical picture.
What is dermoscopy and what does it not replace?
A dermatoscope is an instrument with magnification and suitable lighting. It allows pigment patterns, blood vessels and other structures beneath the surface of the epidermis to be seen. NICE guidance recommends that dermoscopic assessment of pigmented lesions be carried out by someone trained in the technique. The device alone does not make a diagnosis: what counts is combining the image with the history, the clinical examination and the doctor’s experience.
What can dermoscopy add?
- it helps to distinguish different types of skin lesion,
- it reveals features invisible to the naked eye,
- it supports the decision on observation, documentation or biopsy,
- it allows images of a mole indicated by the doctor to be compared over time.
What cannot be promised?
- complete certainty without histopathology where that examination is indicated,
- a diagnosis from a photo sent through the form,
- that every lesion will only be observed or removed by the same method,
- that a normal examination today rules out a new lesion appearing in future.
Handheld dermoscopy, photography and observation
Not every lesion needs photographic documentation. If an atypical lesion is not scheduled for excision straight away, the doctor may recommend a baseline photograph, preferably a dermoscopic one as well, and a follow-up at a set time. In such a scenario NICE indicates comparing the image after 3 months in specialist care. This, however, is not a universal schedule for all moles or a substitute for biopsy of a suspicious lesion.
What does a mole check in Nysa involve?
- Medical history. The doctor asks how long the lesion has been visible, whether it is changing, bleeding or itching, whether it has been irritated and whether the patient or their relatives have had skin cancer. Sunburn, sunbed use, medicines and immunosuppression also matter.
- Examining the skin. The scope of the examination depends on the reason for the visit and what is agreed with the doctor. It is worth pointing out every area that worries you, including the scalp, under the nails, on the palms or the soles.
- Dermoscopy of selected lesions. The doctor places or brings the dermatoscope close to the skin and interprets the visible structures. The examination usually does not break the skin and needs no anaesthetic.
- Risk assessment and decision. The lesion may be left untreated, observed, documented, recommended for biopsy, or managed as appropriate for another dermatological diagnosis.
- Recommendations. The patient should know what to watch for, when to come back, where the next stage is carried out and which symptoms require earlier contact.
A visit does not always end with a procedure. If the lesion is suspicious, the doctor arranges further diagnostics, for example a dermatological surgery consultation and histopathology after the lesion is removed. With a benign lesion, the doctor may explain that there is no indication for removal, and discuss observation or a method suited to the diagnosis and location.
What happens after the examination: observation, biopsy or another treatment?
The appearance of the lesion determines the way forward. Trying to remove a suspicious lesion with a tissue-destroying method may make full histopathological assessment impossible. The choice of method should therefore not start with the question “laser, electrocautery or freezing”, but with the diagnosis.
A benign lesion
It may need no treatment. If it is a nuisance, gets irritated or the patient is considering removal, the doctor discusses the benefits, the scar, the risk of recurrence and the methods available for that type of lesion.
A lesion for observation
The doctor decides whether documentation is needed and when the follow-up should take place. The patient should not wait for the planned date if they notice significant change sooner.
A suspicious lesion
It may require surgical biopsy and histopathology or an urgent referral. Histopathology examines the tissue taken under a microscope and allows a final diagnosis to be made.
Reception confirms which procedures are available on a given date and at which location. If the next stage requires another centre, the patient should receive a clear recommendation rather than a promise that every procedure can be done on site.
How to watch your skin between visits
Examine your skin in good light, comparing it with how it looked before. Help from another person makes the back and scalp easier to assess. Pay attention to the ears, the spaces between the fingers, the palms, the soles and the nails. If you take a photograph, keep the lighting, distance and scale similar, but do not delay a consultation just to “wait for a second photo”.
Note the location and the date
A note helps you tell the doctor when the lesion was noticed and what exactly has changed. A photo without a date, scale or context is less useful.
Home methods are not recommended
Do not cut or burn a lesion of uncertain diagnosis, and do not use wart preparations on it. Damage may make assessment harder and cause infection or a scar.
Protection from UV radiation
The WHO recommends shade, clothing, a hat, sunglasses and a broad-spectrum sunscreen on exposed areas when the UV index is 3 or higher. Sunscreen is not there to extend time in the sun; sunbeds are best avoided altogether.
How often should moles be checked?
There is no single correct interval for everyone. The NCI notes that population skin screening has no confirmed effect on reducing deaths, while regular checks are important for people who have had skin cancer. The doctor sets the frequency of professional assessment according to the number and type of moles, any previous diagnosis, family history, UV exposure, immunosuppression and the ability to self-check. A new or changing lesion needs a consultation regardless of any planned preventive appointment.
How to prepare for a mole check
Before the visit
- do not apply concealing make-up or self-tanner to the area being assessed,
- prepare a list of the lesions you have noticed and the dates they changed,
- bring earlier photos, histopathology reports and discharge summaries if you have them,
- mention medicines affecting clotting and immunity; do not stop them on your own.
Information for reception
- say that it concerns a consultation and dermoscopic assessment of lesions,
- report it if one lesion is growing fast, bleeding spontaneously or not healing,
- confirm the scope and location of the visit,
- ask how the next stage is organised if you already have a recommendation for a biopsy.
Reception does not make a medical assessment from a description over the phone. Its role is to choose the right type of visit and give organisational information. Please do not put medical details or photos of lesions into the ordinary contact form.
Mole check Nysa: booking, map and further care
The HappyDERM clinic is located in the Przychodnia Centrum medical centre at ul. Mariacka 10 in Nysa, 1st floor, room 3. Reception: 793 879 708, email: nysa@happyderm.pl. See the map and directions.
If the problem goes beyond a single mole, start with the page Dermatologist Nysa. A fuller guide to melanocytic lesions is on the page mole checks and dermoscopy. Current fees are published in one HappyDERM price list; reception confirms the scope available on a given date.
Mole checks and dermoscopy in Nysa: FAQ
Does dermoscopy hurt?
It does not break the skin and is usually painless. The doctor looks at the lesion through the dermatoscope; depending on the technique, the device may touch the skin or be held very close to it.
Does dermoscopy give certainty that a lesion is benign?
It helps with the assessment, but it does not replace histopathology when a biopsy is indicated. The final diagnosis of a suspicious lesion that has been removed is made by a pathologist under the microscope.
Is every dark patch a mole?
No. The differential diagnosis includes lentigines, seborrhoeic keratoses, post-inflammatory changes and skin cancers, among others. A diagnosis is needed first.
Can a mole smaller than 6 mm be dangerous?
Yes. The diameter threshold is only part of the ABCDE rule. Evolution, asymmetry, borders, colours and how the lesion differs from the others also matter.
Does a bleeding mole always mean cancer?
No, bleeding can have various causes, including injury. Spontaneous or recurring bleeding does, however, require examination and should not be put down to irritation alone without an assessment.
Can a mole be assessed from a photo?
A photo may support triage or comparison, but an ordinary form and a photograph do not replace the history, skin examination and dermoscopy. Please do not send detailed medical information through the form.
Does every mole need to be removed?
No. Many moles need no treatment. The doctor decides on observation, biopsy or removal on the basis of the clinical picture and the risk.
Can a suspicious mole be frozen or removed with electrocautery?
Tissue-destroying methods are not the right route for a lesion that requires full histopathological assessment. The diagnosis and the indication for a specific method must be established first.
Can I come without a referral?
Appointments at HappyDERM are private. Reception will confirm the right type of visit, the date and the organisational scope.
How often should moles be checked?
The interval should be individual. It depends on the number and type of moles, a history of skin cancer, family history, immunosuppression and the doctor’s recommendations, among other things. A worrying lesion is not put off until a routine check.
Can a lesion be removed straight away in Nysa?
A medical assessment comes first. The type of procedure and where it is carried out depend on the diagnosis, the location of the lesion and the need for histopathology; reception confirms availability.
How do I book a mole check in Nysa?
Call 793 879 708 or use the contact form. Contact details and a short note that it concerns a mole check are enough in the form. The doctor will take a detailed medical history during the visit.
Sources used to prepare this page
- NICE NG14: Melanoma – assessment and management — dermoscopy, baseline photography and follow-up of selected lesions.
- NICE NG12: Suspected cancer – recognition and referral — features of lesions requiring urgent referral for further diagnostics.
- Polish National Oncology Portal: diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma (in Polish).
- National Monitoring Centre of the NIO: current guidelines on melanoma and other skin cancers (in Polish).
- American Academy of Dermatology: the ABCDEs of melanoma and self-examination.
- National Cancer Institute: Skin Cancer Screening (PDQ).
- WHO: protection from UV radiation and skin cancer.
Content updated on 6 August 2026. This educational material does not replace an examination, a histopathological diagnosis or individual recommendations.