How to prepare for your digital full skin mapping in Ivanhoe
A few simple steps help us capture the clearest images and make your skin check as thorough, accurate, and comfortable as possible.
[Book a comprehensive skin check in Ivanhoe (AutoMed Ivanhoe Skin Check Booking)]
Key takeaways
- Arrive with no makeup (including tinted moisturiser and tinted sunscreen).
- Underwear is worn during digital full skin mapping — choose styles that show more skin, especially on the upper legs.
- For women, we prefer bra off for the photos (you can keep it on if you prefer).
- If wearing a bra during mapping, choose one that covers as little back/shoulder skin as possible, and try to wear the same bra next time for consistency.
- During the doctor’s examination, you’ll wear a thick cotton patient gown and can choose bra on/off — we can work around it.
Jump links
- Before you arrive
- Clothing recommendations
- What happens on the day
- If you need to reschedule
- Accessibility and mobility needs
- Questions we often get
- Book
Before you arrive
Please come with a clean face and skin
For the most accurate assessment and best-quality images, please remove:
- All makeup (including concealer, foundation, powder)
- Any tinted products, including tinted moisturiser and tinted sunscreen
- Fake tan (where possible, please allow it to fade/remove before your visit)
- Nail polish (if you can remove it — it can make it harder to assess nail colour and the skin around the nails)
Why this matters: makeup and tinted products can obscure subtle colour changes and surface features that help us detect and track lesions over time.
Clothing recommendations
Underwear (mapping is done in underwear)
During digital full skin mapping, you’ll remain in underwear.
For men (especially):
- Prefer briefs or smaller styles
- Try to avoid boxers because they cover more of the upper legs, reducing how much skin is captured in the images
For everyone:
- Choose underwear that is comfortable and allows good visibility of the upper thighs.
Bras (women) — what we prefer and what’s optional
For the mapping photos, we prefer the bra off because:
- Skin cancer can occur anywhere
- Bra straps and bands can hide parts of the back, shoulders, and upper chest
Your comfort matters: you can keep your bra on if you prefer.
If you do keep your bra on during mapping, we recommend:
- Wearing a bra that reveals as much skin as possible, especially on the back
- Prefer a single strap rather than multiple straps or criss-cross designs
- Trying to remember which bra you wore, and if possible wearing the same bra for your next visit so images match more closely over time
What happens on the day
Step 1 — Digital full skin mapping photos
- Photos are taken in your underwear.
- We’ll guide you through positions so the images are consistent and high quality.
Step 2 — Your doctor appointment (40 minutes)
- You’ll be given a thick cotton patient gown.
- You can choose whether you feel more comfortable with your bra on or off.
- If you keep it on, we can usually work around it (for example, asking permission to lift straps briefly to examine the skin underneath).
If you need to reschedule
You’ll receive a reminder 2 days before your appointment. Please confirm when you receive it.
If you need to reschedule, please call the clinic on 8373 4648 at least 24 hours before your appointment to avoid losing your deposit.
Accessibility and mobility needs
If you have any mobility issues, pain, or difficulty standing/turning for photos, please call ahead so we can make your visit as smooth as possible.
Questions we often get
Do I have to remove my bra?
No. We prefer bra off for the mapping photos, but you can keep it on if you’d like.
Why does underwear style matter?
Because the mapping images capture what’s visible. Smaller styles (like briefs) help us photograph more skin on the upper legs and hips.
What if I forget and arrive with makeup on?
We have gentle cleansing wipes to help you on the day. If possible, arrive ready — or bring what you need to remove makeup (in a private room where the photos occur) before your appointment.
What if I don’t want to remove my makeup at all?
It is completely your choice to keep makeup on and not remove it. Please understand that this means we cannot properly examine the skin covered by makeup, and therefore cannot detect skin cancers in those covered areas.
Book
[Book a comprehensive skin check in Ivanhoe (AutoMed Ivanhoe Skin Check Booking)]