Dr. Ben Wiese

Dr. Ben Wiese Focused care for your skin cancer concerns.

05/22/2026

A Closer Look: Identifying Basal Cell Carcinoma with Digital Dermoscopy 🔬

In this video, we are utilizing the FotoFinder digital dermatoscope to examine a suspicious skin lesion. Dermoscopy is a vital non-invasive tool that allows us to visualize morphological features beneath the skin surface that are invisible to the naked eye.

When evaluating this particular lesion, several classic dermoscopic hallmarks of Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) become apparent under high magnification:

🌿 Arborizing Vessels: Notice the prominent, sharply focused, bright red blood vessels branching out like a tree across the lesion. This is a highly characteristic vascular pattern for BCC.
🛑 Ulceration: The darker, crusted area indicates a break in the skin surface, which is another common feature in many BCCs.
🔍 Pinkish Background: The lesion presents on a translucent, pinkish-white background, typical for non-pigmented or lightly pigmented basal cell carcinomas.

Early detection is key in managing skin cancer effectively. Regular skin checks and the use of advanced diagnostic tools like digital dermoscopy help us identify these subtle changes early on, ensuring prompt and appropriate care.

If you notice a new spot, a sore that won’t heal, or any changes to an existing mole, please schedule an evaluation with a skin cancer doc. Learn more @ www.DrBenWiese.com

05/17/2026

Can you spot the melanoma? 🔍

1mm. On the ear. Completely unnoticed by this 52-year-old patient.

Dermoscopy revealed atypical pigment network, irregular dots, and colour asymmetry — features invisible to the naked eye.

The game-changer? Full-body photography with FotoFinder ATBM. A digital baseline allowed us to detect subtle change over time through sequential comparison.

If you have 40+ moles, you’re at increased melanoma risk. Baseline mapping turns surveillance into precision medicine.

Early detection saves lives.

— Dr. Ben Wiese
www.DrBenWiese.com

05/10/2026

Melanoma can be tricky. It doesn’t always look like a typical dark spot. This video reveals two patient cases that will change how you think about skin cancer.

Remember the EFG rule: Elevated, Firm, Growing. If you see it, get it checked!

Don’t delay. Get your skin checked. Link in bio for more info. Learn more at www.DrBenWiese.com

05/09/2026

Is that dark spot on your child’s foot something to worry about? 👣🔍

As a parent, finding a new, strange-looking mole on your child can be terrifying. While melanoma in children is incredibly rare (thankfully!), it can happen. But before you panic, here is the secret to what we actually look for!

Moles on the soles of the feet play by a different set of rules. To the naked eye, they might look alarming. But when we look through a dermatoscope—a specialized magnifying tool—a whole new world of patterns appears.

In this video, I’m breaking down the “Golden Rule” of foot moles:
✅ Furrows = Fine (Pigment sitting in the natural skin valleys is usually benign!)
❌ Ridges = Risky (Pigment sitting on the higher ridges needs closer attention.)

The diagnosis for this little patient? A completely harmless benign acral nevus. No treatment needed!

The takeaway: Never try to guess if a mole is safe just by looking at it. If you spot a changing, new, or unusual mole on yourself or your child, the best (and only) way to know for sure is to have it checked by a skin cancer physician using a dermatoscope. Early detection is everything!

Have you ever had a mole checked? Drop a 🙋‍♀️ in the comments below!

👇 Share this with a fellow parent who needs to know this!

05/05/2026

Two skin cancers, one nose, and a powerful lesson.

At first glance these cancers look tiny. But once I map them out using dermoscopy, you can see how far they really extend beneath the surface – a perfect example of how skin cancer is often just the tip of the iceberg. Dermoscopy lets us detect and define the true edges of skin cancers more accurately than with the naked eye alone, so we don’t miss dangerous cells.

Daily prevention matters: apply about a teaspoon of broad-spectrum SPF 30+ to your face, ears and neck, and remember that consistent sunscreen use lowers your risk of several types of skin cancer over time. Learn more www.DrBenWiese.com

05/05/2026

Do you know how many moles you have?

In this video, we discuss a patient who presented with several moles on her left foot. It is important to know that having more than 40 moles on your entire body significantly increases your risk for melanoma.

By utilizing full-body photography, we identified a small brown lesion on her left big toe that appeared to be a standard mole. Testing confirmed that it was, in fact, melanoma. Fortunately, because we detected it early, we were able to surgically remove it, and she is now completely cured.

This case highlights the critical importance of understanding your risk factors. I strongly encourage everyone to take a few minutes to count their moles. Counting to 40 is a simple task that could save your life. If you find that you have more than 40 moles, you are at an increased risk for melanoma, which warrants a comprehensive professional skin check.

Early detection is key. May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and today is Melanoma Monday—the perfect reminder to prioritize your skin health.

For more information and resources, please visit my website at www.drbenwiese.com.

04/28/2026

👀 Which one is the melanoma?

This 39-year-old patient had three spots on the right side of his neck.
To the naked eye… they all look the same. Nothing stands out. Nothing screams danger.

But under dermoscopy?
➡️ One lesion reveals chaos + melanoma-specific features.

That’s the reality of skin cancer:
🚫 It’s not always the “ugly duckling”
🚫 It doesn’t always look suspicious
🚫 It’s often completely asymptomatic

👉 If you have 50+ moles, your risk is higher.
👉 If you have fair skin, a family history, or lots of sun exposure, your risk increases.
👉 And no — this is not just an “older person” problem.

Skin cancer can happen young, healthy, and quietly.

💡 The takeaway:
✔️ Know your risk factors
✔️ Check your skin regularly
✔️ Don’t rely on what “looks bad”
✔️ Get professional skin checks — they catch what eyes can’t

Early detection = everything.

04/24/2026

What you see isn’t always the full story.

In this video:
🔍 A squamous cell carcinoma on the right lower temple
🔍 A large basal cell carcinoma just above it
At first glance, you notice the ulcerated pink area… but look closer. That “scar-like” region? Under the microscope, it’s actually part of the cancer.

And that’s not all—there’s another sizable basal cell carcinoma on the helix of the left posterior ear.

All of this is happening on a background of severe sun damage (photodamage) and actinic keratoses—clear signs of long-term UV exposure.

⚠️ Skin cancer doesn’t always look dramatic.
⚠️ It can hide in plain sight.
⚠️ It can mimic scars, dry patches, or “nothing serious.”

Here’s what matters:

☀️ Use sunscreen DAILY
👉 A teaspoon for your face, ears, and neck
👉 Make it as routine as brushing your teeth

👕 Protect the rest of your body with clothing

🚨 And most importantly:
If you have a spot that isn’t healing, changing, or just doesn’t seem right—get it checked. Early detection can make all the difference.

This is education—not fear. But awareness saves lives.

www.DrBenWiese.com

:::

04/22/2026

Two hands, two very different stories.

On the right: squamous cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen’s disease) — caught early.
On the left: an invasive squamous cell carcinoma, developing on a background of untreated sun damage (actinic keratosis).

This is what cumulative UV exposure can do over time.

Your hands are one of the most sun-exposed — and often most forgotten — areas of your body.

✔️ Use sunscreen on your hands every single day
✔️ Reapply, especially after washing
✔️ Wear UV-protective gloves when driving, golfing, or hiking
✔️ Treat sun damage early — actinic keratoses are not harmless
✔️ Be extra vigilant if you’re over 60

Skin cancer doesn’t happen overnight — it’s the result of years of unprotected exposure. The good news? Much of it is preventable.

Protect your hands. Check your skin. Treat early.

04/20/2026

Thank you

04/18/2026

Think of this like your skin’s version of dental plaque 🦷☀️

In this video, we’re showing something most people never see: precancerous skin cells. These are early changes that can turn into skin cancer if ignored.

A helpful way to understand it:

* Plaque or a small cavity → can become a bigger dental problem
* Precancerous cells → can develop into skin cancer

And just like brushing and flossing help prevent cavities, daily sun protection helps prevent skin damage from progressing.

🧴 Your “skin hygiene”:
• Wear protective clothing
• Use sunscreen consistently
• Get your skin checked—especially if you had a lot of sun exposure when you were younger

Catching these early can make a huge difference in preventing future skin cancer.

Learn more at: www.DrBenWiese.com

Address

606-550 Osprey Avenue
Kelowna, BC
V1Y0A6

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 1pm
2pm - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 1pm
2pm - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 1pm
2pm - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 1pm
2pm - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 1pm
2pm - 4:30pm

Telephone

+12364203277

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