Total Body Photography
What is total body photography (TBP)?
Total body photography is a tool for the early detection of skin cancer, especially recommended for high-risk patients, such as those with a personal or familial history of skin cancer. A trained photographer takes clinical photographs of a patient’s entire skin surface, using a special machine, which are then stored so that they can be used as a reference point for future examinations and allow your doctor to track the growth and development of lesions on your skin.
The process is painless and non-invasive. It takes place in an in-clinic photography studio, with appropriate clinical equipment and lighting. Each session will only take about 10–15 minutes, and requires you to undress down to underthings so that as much skin as possible is photographed. The photographer will instruct you through a variety of different positions to capture different angles and parts of the body.
Who is total body photography recommended for?
- People with many (100+) moles on the skin,
- People with many moles that are large, unusually colored or unusually shaped,
- People with moles on locations difficult to self-monitor, such as on the back or shoulders,
- People with a personal or familial history of melanoma, and
- People with fair skin that has been repeatedly or severely sunburned.
What are the benefits of total body photography?
- Assists in the early diagnosis of melanoma in high-risk patients. Some studies suggest that approximately one-third of melanomas are diagnosed solely based on change detected on TBP. Melanomas detected based on TBP are more likely to be diagnosed at an early stage when they are lower risk and have more chance of successful treatment.
- Patients can avoid from unnecessary excision of non-cancerous lesions through photography-based diagnoses.
- For high risk patients, doctors can easily track any changes and growths in skin, allowing for early diagnosis and treatment, and reducing patient anxiety.
