How to photograph a mole for repeat tracking

Good mole tracking starts with repeatable photos. The goal is not a pretty image; it is a sharp, comparable record that makes changes easier to see.

DermaTrack is a personal screening and documentation tool. It is not a certified medical device and does not provide a medical diagnosis.

Open DermaTrack Clinic pilots

Clean the lens and stabilize the phone

A dirty lens or shaky hand can make the image unusable. Brace the phone or dermatoscope and retake blurry captures.

Fill the frame without cutting the lesion

Keep the full lesion and a small rim of surrounding skin visible. Cropping too tightly removes border context.

Avoid glare and shadows

Polarized dermatoscope lighting usually reduces reflection. If glare remains, adjust pressure, angle, or ambient light.

Repeat the same position

For follow-up, use the same body map location, similar distance, and similar lighting so evolution is not confused with capture variation.

Use quality gates

DermaTrack checks brightness, contrast, and sharpness before analysis so low-quality captures can be retaken.