What should you know about globules dermoscopy?

Under magnification, pigment can appear as small round or oval dots called globules. They may be arranged regularly around a lesion, clustered in one area, or distributed unevenly. A regular pattern can fit a benign mole, while irregular size, colour, or placement may prompt closer assessment. Globules are one observation, not a diagnosis. The clinician also considers the lesion’s symmetry, borders, colours, evolution, body site, and your personal history.

A clinician examines the lesion with a Dermatoscope, often comparing it with surrounding skin and earlier photographs when available. Do not scrape, pick, or apply irritating products to the mole before review. Record when you first noticed it and whether it has changed in size, shape, colour, sensation, or surface. Avoid self-diagnosing from a magnified image because benign and concerning patterns can overlap.

Book a skin assessment for a new or changing pigmented lesion, especially one that bleeds, crusts, itches persistently, becomes painful, or develops an uneven pattern. Prompt review is appropriate when a mole looks different from your other moles. If examination remains uncertain, the clinician may recommend monitoring with a planned review or Mole Removal for laboratory examination.

Are the globules regular or irregular? Which other features influenced your opinion? Should the lesion be photographed, monitored, or removed for examination?