Skin cancer treatment & mole checks in Zurich

A regular mole check check (skin cancer screening) is part of the mandatory annual cancer screening programme. Unlike most other cancers, altered moles can be quickly and easily detected by a specialist examination. The chances of treatment are very good and the earlier a change is detected, the better. At the Swiss Derma Clinic in Zurich we carry out birthmark checks with a powerful dermatoscope. This allows us to detect skin tumours very reliably. With the computer-assisted digital video dermatoscopy, the progress can be documented and precisely assessed with regular birthmark checks.

Procedure of the mole check in Swiss Derma Clinic in Zurich:

• Your skin is carefully examined with the dermatoscope.
• Pigment spots and skin changes are digitally recorded. The images are evaluated in detail and stored in your patient file.
• During follow-up examinations, the images are compared in addition to the physical examination. This enables us to detect even the smallest changes.
• We advise you in detail on your options for preventive care, skin care and recommended sun protection.
• If necessary, we treat changed skin areas directly. Tissue samples can be taken within minutes with a small local anaesthetic.

At the Swiss Derma Clinic in Zurich, we use the latest computer-assisted digital video dermatoscopy. Conspicuous skin changes and pigmentation marks are digitally recorded and analysed. We carefully save the images. This enables our dermatologists to precisely compare possible changes over years. As a rule, the next check-up appointment should take place after 8 to 12 months.

Regular birthmark checks can detect skin cancer at an early stage and treat it effectively. Skin cancer screening is therefore one of the most effective preventive examinations. Nevertheless, many patients do not take advantage of these opportunities. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer worldwide, and the number of cases has been increasing continuously for years. This is not least due to our beauty ideal of tanned skin.

Tanned skin is wrongly associated with health and sportiness. Recreational and outdoor activities often take place without adequate sun protection. Intensive and regular sun exposure and visits to solariums promote the development of this disease. Skin cancer is not a disease of old age - even young patients should remember to have their moles checked regularly. Ideally, the moles should be checked once a year by an experienced dermatologist.

Basically, our skin is subject to constant change. To a certain extent, the formation of new moles is therefore quite normal. Nevertheless, you should observe new birthmarks and point them out at your next birthmark check-up. The aim of the annual specialist examination is to reliably detect skin cancer and precancerous lesions and, if necessary, to treat them at an early stage. If skin cancer is detected in the early stages, the chances of cure are very good. Changes that you should be aware of are best described using the ABCDE rule:

• Asymmetry: Is the mole evenly shaped, does it have a relatively round shape or is it strikingly asymmetrical?
• Border: Is the border of your mole straight and sharply defined? In the case of frayed and washed-out borders, you should seek a specialist check-up.
• Colorit (colour): Is your mole uniform in colour or does it show marked colour variations? If the colouring is irregular, a short check can bring clarity.
• Dynamics: Do you notice a change in a pigment spot within a short time? Then consult us briefly.
• Elevation: Does the level of the mole lie on the skin or does it rise above it? Raised moles should be clarified by a doctor.

In case of doubt and if you are worried about a birthmark, you can always make an appointment for a birthmark check at the Swiss Derma Clinic in Zurich.

Since basically any mole can change, it should be checked in detail regularly. At Swiss Derma Clinic in Zurich we recommend a mole check once a year. For the best possible examination, we combine the visual examination by our experienced specialist with a microscopic examination using digital video dermatoscopy.

You should also keep an eye on your moles yourself. For example, the ABCDE rule helps you to recognise changes. You should also see a specialist to have your moles checked if a new mole appears or if you have injured an existing pigmented spot.

If skin cancer runs in your family or if you have already been diagnosed with skin cancer precursors or skin cancer, closer monitoring makes sense. At your appointment, our specialist will discuss your personal risk with you in detail and recommend suitable examination intervals.

In principle, there is no minimum age for a mole check. Moles can be checked even in young children, although a regular annual examination is usually not necessary. Since moles in children and adolescents can change considerably, computer-assisted digital video dermatoscopy can be helpful for monitoring and documenting skin changes over the years.

We also recommend that every adult has their moles checked regularly by a specialist. At your first examination we create your personal risk profile. People with fair, sun-sensitive skin, many moles and frequent sunburns in recent years have an increased risk.

The costs of the annual mole check at Swiss Derma Clinic in Zurich are covered by your health insurance. Shorter examination intervals are possible if you have an increased risk of skin cancer. If a malignant change is suspected, basic insurance also covers the examination costs in between.

Please allow at least 20 minutes for your examination with us. You can also contact us at any time if a change in a mole worries you in the meantime. In addition to medically necessary mole removals, we also remove cosmetically bothersome moles as well as warts, lipomas or cysts. Cosmetic and aesthetic procedures are not covered by health insurance.

Digital body mapping systematically captures your skin using high-resolution full-body photography. The specialized software analyzes:

• Moles (nevi) across the entire body
• Newly developed skin changes
• Minimal structural changes in existing lesions

Through the use of artificial intelligence, even very subtle changes can be detected — often significantly earlier than would be possible with a purely visual examination.

The combination of digital documentation and AI analysis enables a new standard in early skin cancer detection:

• Early detection of melanoma and other skin tumors
• Objective monitoring over months and years
• Detection of the smallest changes that are still clinically inconspicuous
• Reduction of unnecessary biopsies or procedures through targeted assessment
• Particularly suitable for patients with many moles or an increased risk of skin cancer

Through repeated examinations, an individual digital skin map is created. This allows for an exact comparison over time — a decisive advantage in diagnostics.

AI serves as a high-precision analytical tool. The final assessment and medical decision is always made by our experienced board-certified dermatologists.