Phone: (303) 355-3000 | Fax: (833) 615-8210 |
Phone: (303) 355-3000 | Fax: (833) 615-8210 |
We are excited to offer mole mapping using iPad based photography using the imaging platform, SkinIO.
Please note that this service does not replace a full body exam. Patients must meet first with one of our physicians for an in office skin check prior to scheduling SkinIO.
SkinIO uses computer assisted technology to detect and track moles over time. If your physician thinks you are a good candidate for mole mapping, this will be discussed at your visit, and you will be scheduled for a separate photography appointment (which is performed by a medical assistant in our office). Your photographs are reviewed by your physician and are available for your review as well. Your physician will recommend follow up photos at regularly spaced intervals (typically 6-12 months) based on your moles and family or personal history of skin cancer. Your baseline photos and future photos will be used to track any new or changing moles. If your physician detects a concern based on photography, they will discuss with you the best way to proceed which may involve a biopsy.
Please keep in mind that mole mapping does not replace your full body skin examination.
We are excited to add this screening and preventative service to our practice!
A: Total body photography is a way of photographing a person to make sure that most or all of their skin is captured in a consistent and reproducible manner. We start with a set of 13 photos of the front, back, left and right of your head, torso and legs. We may also take images of your feet and hands. You will need to be unclothed (to the extent you feel comfortable) for the regions you wish to have photographed. Once we have these images, the individual skin spots are measured, analyzed and stored in a digital database. Core Dermatology is using a fast and easy imaging platform called SkinIO for this program.
A: SkinIO is a simple process that starts with having total body photography performed by a medical assistant. The photos are then processed and analyzed using SkinIO’s algorithms to look specifically for moles and lesions on your skin. These photos can be used by your doctor during your skin exam and you will have secure access to these photos at any time to use as you monitor your skin on your own.
A: Insurance coverage for total body photography is highly dependent on your
insurance plan and provider. At this time most commercial insurance plans do not pay for this service. Core Dermatology charges $150 cash pay for this service (to be collected at the time of each full body photography session). This fee covers one photo session, continuous access to your photos, analysis and review of the images by your physician at each skin check and any close up or magnified images you doctor may take during your skin check. These detailed photos will be added to your SkinIO portfolio free of charge and you may access them at any time.
A: Mole mapping is especially useful for people with many diverse moles or a personal or family history of melanoma. Whether or not you have mole mapping done, you should have your moles examined by a physician. Feel free to discuss SkinIO during your examination.
A: Your comfort is our top priority and it is ultimately up to you to decide which parts of your skin you would like photographed. Ideally you should be prepared to remove at least your outer layer of clothing. Please communicate your preferences with our staff, especially if there are lesions of concern hidden by your underwear. Makeup, nail polish, and jewelry should be completely removed and long hair tied up.
A: No. SkinIO is not diagnostic; we are an imaging and monitoring system for your skin. If you notice anything of concern on your skin at any time, you should always contact your doctor immediately.
A: No! SkinIO will most typically be done on an annual basis and will help flag items that have evolved or appeared over that time. You will need a physician to analyze and diagnose these lesions (and the rest of your skin.) Your doctor will determine whether or not they need to be treated or further assessed. The results of the SkinIO algorithms assist, but do not replace, your doctor examining your skin.
A: Your photos will only be seen by the medical assistant who is photographing you, your doctor, and you. You can securely view your photos at any time through the SkinIO iOS app or web portal. A small percentage of anonymized data is shared with the SkinIO data science team to verify that the output is consistent with our quality standards.
A: After your first SkinIO photography session, you will receive an email inviting you to create a secure user account for accessing your data. (Please be sure to check your spam folder if you do not see this welcome email from SkinIO after your photo session). Please note that you will have 5 days to create your account credentials using the unique link in that email. If more than 5 days have elapsed, you will need to request a new link for credentials by clicking the “Forgot your password?” link at https://app.skinio.com. Once your account is created, your images can be viewed at any time after securely logging in through the SkinIO iOS application or on a web browser at https://app.skinio.com (optimized for Chrome and Safari browsers).
A: Yes. SkinIO data is always encrypted prior to being uploaded and can only be decrypted by the SkinIO servers. All data stored in SkinIO is encrypted and stored in a HIPAA-compliant cloud server as well. No data is stored on your phone or computer.
