What You Need to Know About Skin Moles

Skin moles are a normal skin growth that appear during childhood and the first thirty years of life. It is not uncommon for people to have dozens of moles by the time they reach the age of thirty on many different areas of their body. However, since irregular moles can be a sign of sign cancer, it is important to know what moles are normal and when to have them examined by a dermatologist. Here are some tips on what you need to know about moles and early detection of skin cancer.

  • Be aware of what moles are on your body. The first step in noticing an irregular mole is being aware of the moles you already have. After the age of thirty, you should be doing a mole check at least once a year.
  • Know the ABCD’s of moles. Asymmetry, Border, Color and Dimension are the ABCD’s of examining your moles. Normal moles are symmetrical, have even borders, are solid in color and are usually smaller than 6 mm (the size of a pencil eraser). Any moles that have irregularities in any of these four areas should be checked out by your dermatologist as soon as possible.
  • Look for mole changes. Any mole that changes, bleeds, is itchy or seems different than it was before should be examined by a medical professional, preferably a dermatologist.

Mole irregularities are one of the most common places to detect skin cancer in the early stages. Be proactive in performing regular mole inspections on yourself and schedule annual exams with your dermatologist for a thorough skin exam as part of your preventive health care program.

Posted on behalf of:
Northwest Georgia Dermatology
840 Church Street
Marietta, GA 30060
(770) 426-7177

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