It’s important to regularly check your moles, as they can change into a type of skin cancer called melanoma.
Medically reviewed by Dr Juliet McGrattan (MBChB) and words by Jenny L. Cook
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK, with around 100,000 new cases diagnosed each year, but most skin cancers can be cured if detected early. To spot the signs, any changes to your skin should be a concern, but it’s worth regularly checking your moles to identify whether you are at risk.
Moles are small collections of pigment producing cells that sit on the top layer of your skin that are usually nothing to worry about, unless they change size, shape or colour.
It’s important to check your moles every few months to identify whether you are at risk from skin cancer. But would you know what to look out for? Follow our simple guide to mole checking, with expert advice from consultant dermatologist Dr Firas Al-Niaimi:
What is a mole?
Can’t tell your moles from your elbow? There is often some confusion over what actually constitutes a mole, as they can look a bit like freckles.
‘A mole is a collection of pigment cells called melanocytes and can appear at the superficial layer of the skin called the epidermis or the deeper part called the dermis,’ explains Dr Al-Niaimi.
‘A freckle is a sun-related light or dark brown mark that tends to lighten in the winter and darken in the summer. Moles do not have this seasonal colour variation. The two also appear differently under the microscope.’
Why should you check your moles?
The reason it’s important to regularly check your moles is that they can sometimes change into a type of cancer called melanoma. Melanoma is now the third most common skin cancer in the UK. The good news is, if it’s detected and treated early, the better your outlook.
It’s important to regularly check your moles as they can change in to a type of cancer called melanoma.
Regular mole checks will aid in the early recognition of an abnormal mole with greater chance of cure. ‘A thorough mole check should examine all the moles and detect any particularly worrying ones,’ says Dr Al-Niaimi. ‘Patient education on what to look for is essential. A mole checking service can assess your risk of possibly developing skin cancer and how to protect your skin from harmful ultraviolet radiation.’
There is no ideal time of the year to check your moles, but the risk of change does increase slightly after the summer holidays, so keeping an eye on your moles during autumn or early winter should be considered.
⚠️ If your moles look in any way abnormal or you are unsure, always ask your GP for advice.
What to expect from a mole check
A full ‘mole screen’ is not usually available on the NHS. If you have any moles that you are concerned about when you check yourself, then your NHS doctor will be happy to check it. Some private clinics offer full mole checks.
Here’s what to expect during a mole screening appointment:
✔️ When you attend a mole screening, to start with they will do a very straightforward risk assessment. This will include a few questions about your levels of sun exposure, sun bed use, family history of melanoma and other similar factors.
✔️ It’s then time for the check, whereby the doctor looks at your freckles and moles to see whether there are any abnormalities.
✔️ If you have any particular moles you are concerned about, this is your opportunity to point them out.
What does a cancerous mole look like?
The doctor or health care professional will take a few things into consideration while checking your moles. ‘It is important to understand what to be looking for in terms of a change in a mole and to assess the individual’s risk,’ explains Dr Al-Niaimi.
‘If there is any change in asymmetry, border irregularities, colour change, or increase in size, or if you have any concern regarding any change then it’s worth getting a check.’
If there is any change in asymmetry, border irregularities, colour, or size, it’s worth getting checked.
It’s also important to get a check if a mole has been bleeding, oozing, crusting or itchy as these are all important signs of change.
You can carry a mole assessment out on yourself at home too, but if you do spot any abnormalities or if you’re just not sure you’re doing it correctly, always ask your GP for advice.
The ABCD acronym for mole checking
As part of checking your moles, it’s important to look out for the following:
A • Asymmetry
Does one half of the mole look different to the other? If so, it needs checking.
B • Border irregularities
Does the mole change towards the outside? Is the border blurred?
C • Colour changes
Has the mole become darker or developed any speckles of black, blue or grey?
D • Diameter
Has your mole got bigger or wider?
Abnormal mole removal
If you or your doctor does find an abnormal mole, it is generally advised that the mole is removed. Your doctor will then send it off to a lab for further inspection and testing.
‘Sometimes, depending on the type of change, we might be unsure as to whether a mole is a problem or not,’ says Dr Al-Niaimi. ‘In these cases, we will monitor it over time. Any problem mole will continue to change, so keeping an eye on it will let us know for sure whether or not it needs to be removed.’
The mole removal process is nothing to worry about. It is carried out easily and painlessly under a local anaesthetic. A single mole removal may take as little as 20 minutes to complete.
The doctor removing the mole should discuss with you how you will receive the results of the histology (microscope examination). Check whether you will have to phone for them or whether you will receive a letter. Moles without any worrying microscopic features shouldn’t need any further treatment but your doctor may need to see you to discuss next steps if there are any changes found.
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