How often should I have a skin cancer screening?

As a rule once a year. Shorter intervals can make sense where the risk is higher, for example with many moles, a fair skin type, skin cancer in the family or after a skin cancer that has already been treated. We agree the right interval with you.

What does health insurance cover, and what is an IGeL service?

Statutory health insurers usually cover skin cancer screening from the age of 35, every two years. The additional methods, that is FotoFinder® mapping, 20-MHz ultrasound and impedance spectroscopy (Nevisense®), are as a rule self-pay or IGeL services. Which of them make sense in your case, and on what terms, is something we discuss with you beforehand.

Is the examination painful?

No. The inspection, the mole mapping (FotoFinder®), the 20-MHz ultrasound and the impedance spectroscopy (Nevisense®) are all non-invasive and as a rule cause little pain. With Nevisense® you merely feel the sensor touching the skin.

What do FotoFinder® and Nevisense® add to a visual inspection?

They provide objective additional information: high magnification, AI-assisted assessment and, over the course of time, an exact comparison. That helps to notice changes early and at the same time to avoid unnecessary operations.

What is the ABCDE rule?

A memory aid for checking your own moles (Asymmetry, Border, Colour, Diameter, Evolution) that complements medical screening but does not replace it; the full guide is on the page about checking your own skin.

Is screening also possible during pregnancy or on dark skin?

Yes. The methods are suitable for this; impedance spectroscopy (Nevisense®) can expressly also be used during pregnancy and on darker skin types. More on this on the impedance spectroscopy page.

Skin Cancer Screening & Skin Check

The screening examination for the early detection of skin cancer: a whole-body examination and computer-assisted mole mapping (FotoFinder®), supplemented where needed by 20-MHz ultrasound and impedance spectroscopy (Nevisense®).

Overview

Detected early, skin cancer can in many cases be treated well and cured. What matters for that are regular screening and check-up examinations, as a rule once a year. They are particularly important to us. If a skin cancer has already been diagnosed, regular follow-up examinations matter alongside the treatment.

During the skin check we examine the entire skin systematically, including the places that are hard to see, and where it is useful we compile a mole atlas with the FotoFinder® system, which makes changes objectively comparable over time. If a finding remains unclear, high-resolution 20-MHz ultrasound and electrical impedance spectroscopy (Nevisense®) add to the assessment; both methods are described on their own pages.

The three main forms of skin cancer and the factors that raise the risk are explained on the skin cancer overview page. The most effective protection remains prevention, for children above all; the ten sun safety rules have their own page, as does checking your own skin with the ABCDE rule.

Areas of application

Annual skin cancer screening in adulthood, more often where the risk is increased
Many moles, or moles that look unusual
Cases of skin cancer in your own family
Fair skin type, frequent sunburn in the past, intensive use of UV light or tanning beds
New, growing or changing skin lesions
Monitoring known moles over time (mole atlas)
Follow-up after skin cancer that has already been treated

Procedure

Medical history and whole-body examination
First we talk through your history and any risk factors. We then examine the entire skin systematically, including the places that are hard to see.
Computer-assisted mole mapping (FotoFinder®)
The FotoFinder® system works with digital incident-light microscopy (epiluminescence). Where it is useful, we use it to compile a whole-body mole atlas. The medicam 1000s produces micro-images at up to 400-fold magnification; the Moleanalyzer pro® shows colour, borders, symmetry and structure and supports the assessment with an artificial intelligence developed at the universities of Tübingen and Heidelberg. Changes that stand out can be picked up early and compared objectively over time.
Where needed: 20-MHz ultrasound
If a lesion remains unclear or an operation is planned, high-resolution, non-invasive 20-MHz sonography adds to the assessment, for instance to measure the tumour thickness; the details are on the 20-MHz ultrasound page.
Where needed: impedance spectroscopy (Nevisense®)
If a mole remains uncertain, electrical impedance spectroscopy (Nevisense®), which is almost painless and draws no blood, can provide an objective piece of additional information; how the measurement works and what the value on the scale from 0 to 10 means is explained on the impedance spectroscopy page.
Discussing the findings and what we recommend
From the combination of methods we work out the next steps together with you: from simple monitoring through to a recommended removal with examination under the microscope. The aim is an assessment that is as reliable as possible, with as few unnecessary procedures as possible.

What to expect

All of the examinations described are non-invasive and as a rule cause little pain.
Once a mole atlas has been created, follow-up appointments allow an objective comparison over time.
Impedance spectroscopy (Nevisense®) usually delivers its result within about 10 minutes and can also be used during pregnancy and on darker skin types; details are on the impedance spectroscopy page.
The recommended interval is as a rule once a year. Where the risk is increased or after a skin cancer, shorter intervals may be advisable.
Statutory health insurers usually cover skin cancer screening from the age of 35, every two years. The additional methods (FotoFinder® mapping, high-resolution ultrasound, Nevisense®) are as a rule self-pay or IGeL services; we discuss the framework with you beforehand.

Risks & notes

The screening examinations themselves are non-invasive and carry no notable risks.
No diagnostic method offers 100 per cent certainty. That is why we combine several of them and recommend regular check-ups.
If a finding gives cause for concern, surgical removal with a subsequent examination under the microscope (histology) may be necessary in order to establish a reliable diagnosis.
Checking your own skin at home (ABCDE rule) is a sensible addition, but it does not replace the medical examination.
The computer- and AI-assisted evaluation serves solely to support the medical decision and does not replace the doctor's assessment.

Prevention and self-examination

Both complement the screening examination and are described in detail on their own pages:

Sun safety rules: ten rules for dealing with the sun, from avoiding any reddening of the skin through textile sun protection and sunscreen of at least SPF 30 to sunglasses, are on the sun safety rules page.
Self-examination: with the ABCDE rule (Asymmetry, Border, Colour, Diameter, Evolution) you can keep an eye on your moles yourself between appointments; the step-by-step guide is on the page about checking your own skin.
Regardless of your screening interval, see us promptly if a skin lesion bleeds, itches, develops a rough, sandpaper-like surface, shows new discolouration or changes rapidly in size, shape or colour.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I have a skin cancer screening?: As a rule once a year. Shorter intervals can make sense where the risk is higher, for example with many moles, a fair skin type, skin cancer in the family or after a skin cancer that has already been treated. We agree the right interval with you.
What does health insurance cover, and what is an IGeL service?: Statutory health insurers usually cover skin cancer screening from the age of 35, every two years. The additional methods, that is FotoFinder® mapping, 20-MHz ultrasound and impedance spectroscopy (Nevisense®), are as a rule self-pay or IGeL services. Which of them make sense in your case, and on what terms, is something we discuss with you beforehand.
Is the examination painful?: No. The inspection, the mole mapping (FotoFinder®), the 20-MHz ultrasound and the impedance spectroscopy (Nevisense®) are all non-invasive and as a rule cause little pain. With Nevisense® you merely feel the sensor touching the skin.
What do FotoFinder® and Nevisense® add to a visual inspection?: They provide objective additional information: high magnification, AI-assisted assessment and, over the course of time, an exact comparison. That helps to notice changes early and at the same time to avoid unnecessary operations.
What is the ABCDE rule?: A memory aid for checking your own moles (Asymmetry, Border, Colour, Diameter, Evolution) that complements medical screening but does not replace it; the full guide is on the page about checking your own skin.
Is screening also possible during pregnancy or on dark skin?: Yes. The methods are suitable for this; impedance spectroscopy (Nevisense®) can expressly also be used during pregnancy and on darker skin types. More on this on the impedance spectroscopy page.