How often to see a dermatologist about moles

[Pen89ox]

Hi everyone, I’m a sufferer of quite bad health anxiety, it’s all new to me as I was very much not like this all my life until about 18 months ago.

I’m not a moley person as such, but I have a birthmark on my leg that I’ve never really paid any attention to all my life (stupidly) it’s always been of a similar shape but I think there has and is slight changes. Since my health anxiety started I had it checked by a dr in Sep 2021 and a private dermatologist in a July 2022, they looked at it thoroughly through a machine I can’t remember the name of, and were absolutely not bothered at all by it.

I worry about it a lot, as it’s a birthmark I think there are slightly different ‘rules’ compared to moles. I just want rid of it altogether. I asked if it’s sensible to go back in 12 months and they said yes, but I honestly don’t think I could wait that long as I worry so much. Is it daft to go every 6 months?

I go every year. But if you are concerned, you should absolutely go and get it checked, no need to wait.

I have had loads of moles for over 40 years. They have never been checked & it would never occur to me that they should be. Just get on with your life, and what will be will be.

It's bad for OP to go often, OP has anxiety & that will get worse the more the feed it. The anxiety is a far bigger risk to them than the mark on the leg. They saw 2 professionals about this skin area in last 2 years (!)

OP: I am very moley + get seborrhic keratoses which appear sporadically, I don't get them checked & am totally happy with that. Checks are never going to stop you worrying, no matter how many checks you get. You need a very different solution to reduce your worries.

@Pen89ox I think from a medical POV once a year is enough, unless they suggest sooner.

I don't think it would be awful though if you did it twice a year, but if it's your anxiety fueling it, getting it checked weekly wouldn't stop you obsessing about it.

maybe you should look at getting some/more help for your anxiety?

💐

Boots offer a mole scan service where you can get a mole professionally scanned and sent off to a dermatologist to look at. They send you a report back and let you know if they found anything. It's only £35, so if you do feel the need to get it checked frequently, it might be cheaper than seeing a private dermatologist! I had a mole scanned at boots once because it went crusty. Got a report back the next day saying benign mole.

However I don't think more than once a year is necessary. Most people don't get their moles checked ever to be honest, unless they grow a big new one or something.