Moles: When to worry

There’s a simple ABCD approach to any new or existing mole. Ask yourself:

• A) is there Asymmetry, where one half looks different to the other?
• B) is the Border irregular or blurred?
• C) is there more than one Colour, or a blue/black tinge?
• D) is the Diameter 6mm or more?

You might have other symptoms alongside these changes, like itching or bleeding.

It’s not common to have a mole on the palm of your hand or sole of your foot, so get any new brown marks checked out. Similarly, melanoma can affect the nailbed – if you have a brown mark on the base of your nail that’s not going away, or you can’t remember any injury or accident, it’s worth getting this checked.

Melanoma, a common and serious type of skin cancer, develops after exposure to the sun. While anyone can get it, certain factors increase your risk. This includes if you have pale skin and freckles, blue eyes and red or blonde hair, lots of moles, or skin that burns easily and rarely tans. You're at higher risk if a close family member (parent, child or sibling) has had melanoma.

Spending significant amounts of time in the sun - either working outdoors, living in hot climates or sunbathing - puts you at higher risk, along with extensive use of sunbeds. Melanoma can occur anywhere, but more commonly in areas exposed to the sun - men usually get them on their back, and women on their legs.

Everyone should wear sunscreen with board spectrum UVA and UVB protection, with SPF of 30 or higher, and it should be reapplied regularly. UVA rays are present from dawn until dusk and all year round, UVB rays give you sunburn and are strongest in the summer between 11am and 3pm – both can cause damage to skin cells that can lead to cancer. Along with sunscreen, it’s safe practice to avoid the sun where possible and wear clothes and hats to cover up.

Skin cancers other than melanoma are common, and often on sun-exposed areas of the face, ears and upper back. If you have any pink mark or lump, or any crusted or wet lesion that persists for weeks or months, this is worth getting checked by your doctor. Other skin cancers include basal cell carcinoma (BCC) or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

If it's a "yes" to any of the ABCD warning signs above, book an urgent appointment with your doctor. They will ask about your mole or lump, examine your skin, and they will refer you urgently to a dermatologist if they think skin cancer is a possibility.

If you don’t have specific concerns about any particular mole, but you would feel reassured to have a once-over, you can book privately with a dermatologist or a skin mapping service.