Skin Health MOT / Skin Check London

What is a skin health MOT?

A skin health MOT is an annual check-up where one of our expert dermatologists examines you from top to toe to ensure that everything is as it should be. Moles and lesions will be scrutinised using a dermoscope, a special handheld device that can magnify the area by up to 10 times. The dermatologist can then decide whether the mole or lesion needs any immediate action.

An annual skin health check ensures that any moles or skin lesions can be monitored effectively and if any medical intervention is required, then this can be carried out swiftly.

A skin health MOT will also check the skin for sun damage and our expert dermatologist will provide advice on how to carry out effective mole checks in between check-ups and advice on how to keep your skin protected from the sun’s harmful rays.

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Why have my skin checked?

A skin health check ensures that any dangerous moles or growths can be dealt with quickly.

Skin cancer kills more than 2,500 people each year and the most dangerous form of skin cancer is melanoma, which can develop from existing moles or develop as new standalone marks on the skin. Regular skin health checks with a dermatologist and self-checks at home can help to identify skin cancer in its early stages. Most skin cancers can be cured if they are detected early. However it is not always easy to check your moles yourself if they are located somewhere where it is difficult to see, for example on your back or scalp. An appointment with a specialist will ensure that these moles are not overlooked. If skin cancer is suspected, but not confirmed, a skin biopsy may be performed. This sees a small portion of the skin removed and examined more closely under a microscope in order to identify cancer cells.

If any worrying moles do turn out to be cancerous, they must be removed immediately via surgical excision or Mohs surgery.

It is also important to monitor certain types of birthmarks which have the potential to develop into cancer. A very rare type of birthmark, called a giant congenital melanocytic naevus, can develop into a melanoma if it is larger than 20cm, so it is important that it is checked regularly for any signs of change. Medical guidance recommends that people who have large congenital melanocytic naevi should have regular checks by a dermatologist.

Words from our clients:

"Outstanding experience from the first appointment to being discharged. Very professional, friendly and a fantastic outcome."

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"The girls on the reception at the clinic were very pleasant and professional. The nurse who took out my stitches after my surgery was just lovely and took me through step by step what she was doing and she also recommended a great cream to use to help with healing."

Georgina Nolan

“I was treated with care and provided with thorough knowledge about the procedure I was undertaking. My surgeon was very methodical (a perfectionist) and I felt I received A class treatment."

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"The treatment was for my daughter and the aesthetic practitioner couldn't have been more helpful and informative all through the course of treatment, it was a great treatment with a brilliant outcome. The whole experience was very professional and any worries we went in with were soon taken away after the team greeted us and treated us."

Jessica Yates

"Reception staff very welcoming and efficient. Both nurses who I dealt with were fantastic, and the whole team (anaesthetist, surgeon etc) were friendly but professional, and really put my mind at ease. That I was able to stay later than I perhaps needed after my surgery to fit in with my husbands schedule was greatly appreciated."

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The importance of good skin health

According to Cancer Research UK, melanoma skin cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the UK, and the number of people being diagnosed with this particular type of skin cancer has continued to rise over the last few decades. Around 85% of all diagnosed melanomas are caused by too much ultraviolet radiation, a direct result of sun exposure or using tanning beds.

Although we recommend that every adult should get a skin health check, there are certain people who are at a higher risk of melanoma and should seriously consider a regular skin health MOT.

The risk of melanoma increases with age, with more than 25% of those diagnosed with melanoma aged 75 and above. That said, compared to most types of cancer, melanoma is also quite common in younger people. Although people with fair skin are more at risk of skin cancer, people of colour can also get skin cancer. Often skin cancer in Black people is not diagnosed until its later stages, meaning it is more difficult to treat. A skin health check will help to catch skin cancer in its early stages.

The more common moles a person has on their body, the higher their risk of developing skin cancer, so anyone with lots of moles should be having regular checks with a skin specialist, as well as conducting regular self-checks.

Although not all cancerous moles present in the same way, there are several key things you should consider when you are checking your moles yourself.

A is for asymmetry

Healthy moles look the same on both halves. If one side of the mole looks different to the other, this could be a skin cancer symptom.

B is for border

A normal mole has a well-defined border. A worrying mole will have a ragged or notched border and the pigment may be bleeding into the surrounding skin.

C is for colour

Healthy moles are uniform in colour. A melanoma is usually a mix of two or mole colours, such as black, tan, brown, red, pink, grey, white or even blue. However amelanotic melanoma may have no colour at all.

D is for diameter

Melanomas typically increase in size. Most measure more than 6mm in diameter.

E is for evolving

In short, if a mole has changed size, shape, colour or in any other way, it is a cause for concern.

A worrying mole may have one, some or none of the above characteristics. As well as the ABCDE checklist, you should also apply The Ugly Duckling Test - if something doesn’t look right, it needs to be checked out.

It is not always possible to prevent a melanoma developing as some risk factors - including your family history and skin tone - are out of your control. But practicing good sun safety can help to prevent a benign mole from turning into a cancerous one. Avoid using sunbeds and when going out in the sun, make sure you put on a sun cream with an SPF factor of 30 or above, accompanied by a wide-brimmed hat. You should cover up any moles where possible.

Excessive sun exposure not only puts you at an elevated risk of developing skin cancer, but the sun’s rays can also cause premature aging of the skin. As well as wrinkles and sagging, years of sun exposure can cause hyper-pigmented spots, commonly known as sun spots or liver spots. Our expert dermatologist will be able to advise you on how to care for your skin to ensure it stays healthy for the years to come.

Cadogan Clinic. A strong tradition of innovation

Founded in 2004 by world renown dermatologist Dr Susan Mayou, we now work with over 100 leading consultants and successfully treat over 20,000 patients each year. We have been winning industry awards since inception.

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Skin Health Specialists

We have invited a selection of the country's very best consultants to join us at the Cadogan Clinic so that you can be sure that whatever the nature of your treatment, you will be seeing one of the top practitioners in the country.

Our Surgeons

Dr. Andreea Anton

Consultant Dermatologist

Dr. Meena Arunachalam

Dermatologist

Dr Aveen Connolly

Consultant Dermatologist

Dr. Tamara W Griffiths

Consultant Dermatologist

Dr. Mia Jing Gao

Consultant Dermatologist

Dr. Wisam Alwan

Consultant Dermatologist

Dr Maham Khan

Consultant Dermatologist

Dr Soudeh Mashayekhi

Consultant Dermatologist

Dr. Hayley Leeman

Consultant Dermatologist

Dr. Susan Mayou

Consultant Dermatologist

Dr. Sophie Momen

Consultant Dermatologist

Dr. Amélie Seghers

Consultant Dermatologist

Dr Kristina Semkova

Consultant Dermatologist

Dr. Nisith Sheth

Dermatologist and Dermatological Surgeon

Dr Thomas Tull

Consultant Dermatologist

How To Find Us

The Cadogan Clinic is based at 120 Sloane Street in Chelsea, just off Sloane Square and the Kings Road.

We are accessible by all major bus routes that pass through Sloane Square and Sloane Street, as well as Sloane Square tube station.

We are just a 5 minute walk northwards up Sloane Street once you have arrived at Sloane Square.

Local pay parking is available just around the corner from the Clinic on Cadogan Gate, Cadogan Square and Cadogan Gardens. Our local residential parking zone is the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.

Address: 120 Sloane Street, Chelsea, London, SW1X 9BW

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One of our friendly staff will be delighted to help with your enquiry.

0207 901 8500

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Meet Ellie

Our Lead Patient Advisor is here to support with any queries you may have

Skin Health MOT

What is a skin health MOT?

Why have my skin checked?

The importance of good skin health

Skin Health Specialists

How To Find Us

Related Treatments

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