GMC-Registered · UK skin cancer specialist
Dermatologist's quick take
- Average risk: full-body dermatologist check every 2–3 years; monthly self-checks
- Higher risk (50+ moles, family history): annual professional skin check
- Personal melanoma history: every 3–6 months for the first 2 years, then yearly
- Monthly self-checks halve melanoma mortality regardless of risk category
- AI tracking between visits catches subtle change you'll miss with memory alone
I'm Dr. Iwasa, and one of the most common questions in my UK clinic is: "How often should I be getting checked?" There is no single answer — it depends on your risk profile, family history, and how willing you are to do monthly self-checks. This guide gives you a clear schedule based on five risk categories.
Whatever your category, the most important habit is monthly self-checks supplemented by AI tracking. Free ScanSkinAI mole monitoring stores dated photos so you and your dermatologist can spot subtle change.
Your risk category — find yours
Low risk
No family history, <25 moles, no significant sunburns. Baseline check + every 3 years.
Average risk
25–50 moles, occasional sunburns, fair-to-medium skin. Every 2 years.
Higher risk
50+ moles, blistering childhood sunburns, fair skin, outdoor occupation. Annual.
High risk
Family history of melanoma, atypical mole syndrome, immunosuppressed. Every 6–12 months.
Personal history
Prior melanoma: every 3–6 months for 2 years, then annual lifelong.
All categories
Monthly self-check + AI tracking, regardless of professional visit frequency.
What a professional check covers
A proper full-body skin check involves:
- Visual inspection of the entire skin surface, including scalp, between toes, behind ears, genital area, and oral mucosa
- Dermoscopy of any clinically suspicious lesion
- Photographic documentation of atypical naevi for future comparison
- Discussion of risk factors, sun protection, and self-check technique
It is not a 30-second glance at a forearm. If your check took 2 minutes, you didn't get one.
How to do a monthly self-check (10 minutes)
The systematic 10-minute self-check
- Strong, even lighting. Daylight near a window beats overhead bulbs
- Full-length mirror + hand mirror for back, scalp, behind ears
- Start at the top: face, scalp (use a hairdryer to part hair), behind ears
- Move down: chest, abdomen, both arms (top, underside, hands, between fingers)
- Back: use the hand mirror or ask a partner. Often the highest-risk site for men
- Legs (front, back, sides), feet (soles, between toes), and finally genital area
- Photograph any new or changing lesions with date and a coin/ruler for scale
The role of AI between visits
Memory is unreliable for subtle change over months. AI photo comparison is not. Use ScanSkinAI's free mole check monthly for any concerning lesion — it applies the ABCDE rule automatically, stores dated images, and flags significant changes. Bring the photo timeline to your dermatologist appointment — it makes their job dramatically easier.
What if you find something concerning?
Don't wait for your scheduled check. Photograph the lesion (with date), run a free AI mole check, and book a GP or dermatologist appointment within 2–4 weeks. If any of the urgent features below apply, go faster. For more on the warning signs, see when to worry about a mole.
2-week-wait referral indicators (UK)
- A mole that has changed in size, shape, or colour over weeks
- A non-healing pink/red bump for 4+ weeks
- A pigmented streak under a nail, especially widening or with cuticle pigment
- Any pigmented lesion on palm, sole, or in mouth/genital area
- Bleeding or ulceration in a mole or skin lesion
Bottom line
The "right" frequency is the one matched to your risk. For most adults, that's a baseline dermatologist check, then every 2–3 years professionally + monthly self-checks + AI monitoring. For high-risk patients, more often. The single biggest mortality reduction comes not from annual professional visits but from finding melanoma early, and that's a function of how often you actually look.
Track moles between dermatologist visits
Free AI mole check stores dated photos and applies ABCDE analysis automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. Celina Kazumi Iwasa
VerifiedGMC-Registered · UK Hospital + Private Practice · Skin Cancer Screening Specialist
Dr. Iwasa is a GMC-registered dermatologist working across UK hospital and private practice settings. She specialises in skin cancer screening, mole assessment and dermoscopy, with a focus on UK and European patients across Fitzpatrick I–IV skin types.