⚠️ Tier 2 — for skin surveillance workflow only. This tool records and compares photographs. It does not diagnose. Any suspicious lesion — regardless of what the photo comparison shows — should be assessed clinically with dermoscopy. Not medical advice.
📷 Interactive tool
Mole photo tracker
Ghost-overlay comparison for tracking mole and lesion evolution over months. Take today's photo, overlay it on the previous one, and see change made visible. The "E" in ABCDE — usually the hardest to judge — becomes obvious.
100% private. Photos are stored only in your browser on this device. Nothing is uploaded. Clearing browser data deletes them.
1
Add a lesion
Label it (e.g. "Left upper back") and take the first photo — ideally with a size reference (ruler, coin, or pen tip).
2
Follow-up visit
Tap the lesion, take a new photo. The previous photo appears as a faint overlay so you match the same angle and distance.
3
Compare
Fade blend or reveal slider between any two photos. Print the full timeline for the record.
📸 Your lesion library
Tap a lesion to view its timeline and take a new comparison photo. Everything stays on your device.
ABCDE — what to look for
A
Asymmetry. One half doesn't match the other.
B
Border. Irregular, notched, scalloped, or poorly defined edges.
C
Colour. More than one shade — black, brown, red, white, blue.
D
Diameter. Generally >6mm, though melanoma can be smaller.
E
Evolution. Any change in size, shape, colour, elevation, or symptoms (itch, bleed). This is what the photo tracker makes visible.
Source: Cancer Council Australia — Melanoma prevention. RACGP Melanoma clinical practice guidelines. ABCDE criteria widely adopted since Rigel & Friedman 1985.
📷 How to take a useful comparison photo
1
Natural daylight. Near a window. No flash. No yellow indoor bulbs — colour matters for pigment change.
2
Include a scale. A ruler, 5c coin (19.4mm), or pen tip next to the lesion gives you a fixed reference for size change.
3
Fill the frame. Get close enough that the lesion occupies most of the photo. Focus on the lesion.
4
Same angle each time. Straight down. Use the ghost overlay to line up with the previous shot.
5
Plain background. Skin only if possible. Avoid patterns.
6
Same time of day. Lighting changes through the day. Consistency makes comparison meaningful.
🚩 When to refer or seek review
!
New lesion in an adult — particularly darkly pigmented or growing rapidly.
!
Ugly duckling sign — a lesion that looks different from all the patient's others.
!
Any ABCDE change on serial imaging — the whole point of tracking.
!
Symptoms: itch, tenderness, bleeding, ulceration, non-healing.
!
Patient concern. Patients often notice change first. Take it seriously.
Source: Cancer Council Australia — Melanoma clinical practice guidelines. RACGP AJGP melanoma articles. When in doubt, dermoscopy and/or excisional biopsy remain the gold standard.
Related on AskMyGP
Skin Cancer Hub
All skin cancer tools in one place.
Printable Skin Check Form
Full-body examination record — pair with the photo tracker.
Skin Lesion Scoring
7-point checklist and Menzies method for clinical decision-making.
Melanoma Scoring
Breslow, staging and prognostic scores.
Skin Excision MBS Items
Item numbers for excision and biopsy.
Mole Check Prep (Patient)
What to expect at a skin check appointment.
What Happens at a Skin Check
Plain-English patient guide.
Sources. Cancer Council Australia — Clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of melanoma. RACGP AJGP — serial dermoscopy and photo monitoring literature. ABCDE criteria: Rigel DS, Friedman RJ. J Am Acad Dermatol 1985. Australian Cancer Atlas — Australia has the highest melanoma incidence in the world, making evolution surveillance particularly valuable in general practice.
This tool is a photo comparison utility. It does not diagnose skin cancer, replace dermoscopy, or substitute for GP or dermatologist assessment. Any suspicious lesion — regardless of photo appearance — should be assessed clinically. Last verified: July 2026.
This tool is a photo comparison utility. It does not diagnose skin cancer, replace dermoscopy, or substitute for GP or dermatologist assessment. Any suspicious lesion — regardless of photo appearance — should be assessed clinically. Last verified: July 2026.
Add new lesion
Tap to open camera
Lesion timeline
Compare Then vs Now
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💡 Drag the fade slider to blend then→now.
📅 Timeline
The latest two photos are compared above automatically. Tap any two photos below to compare a different pair.