How we verify
There is no public registry of which dermatology practices use dermoscopy or imaging technology. We build that record ourselves, and we hold it to one standard: no claim without a source and a date.
Where listings come from
Our practice universe starts with the federal NPPES registry of dermatology providers, cross checked against CMS practice data. That tells us who exists and where. It says nothing about equipment, which is where verification begins.
What earns a verified badge
A practice appears on SkinCheckMap only when at least one screening technology claim is supported by evidence we can cite: the practice's own website describing the service, a device maker's provider locator, or documentation submitted by the practice itself when claiming its listing. Each verified item on a listing shows the supporting quote, a link to the source, and the date we checked it.
The four levels we track
- 1. Dermoscopy in office
The practice uses a dermatoscope, a handheld magnifier with polarized light, to examine moles and lesions below the surface during skin exams.
- 2. Digital dermoscopy and mole monitoring
Dermoscopic images are captured and stored so a spot can be compared against itself over time. Often called mole mapping or sequential monitoring.
- 3. Total body photography
A full set of standardized photos of your skin, used as a baseline so new or changing spots stand out at future visits. Especially useful for people with many moles.
- 4. AI or advanced optical analysis
Additional lesion analysis technology such as optical spectroscopy, electrical impedance, or reflectance confocal microscopy.
Ongoing re-verification
Practices move, merge, and change what they offer. Listings are re-checked on a rolling schedule, and every listing shows when it was last verified. Claimed listings are re-verified first.
What we will not do
We do not rank practices by quality, publish outcome claims, or accept payment to alter search order. Sponsored placements, where they exist, are labeled. We never remove a technology badge or mark a practice closed based on automated checks alone; a human reviews every negative change first.
Run a practice and see something wrong? Claim your listing to correct it directly.