Most moles are harmless, but it’s important to check them regularly to spot any signs that one has potentially become cancerous.

This article looks at how often you should be checking your moles, how to do it, and what to do if you think there’s cause for concern.

What are moles?

Moles, also called naevi, are a type of skin growth. They develop when pigment-producing cells called melanocytes grow in clusters rather than spread throughout the skin.

They can appear anywhere on the body and range from the colour of your skin to brown, black or even blue. Moles also develop in different shapes and sizes — they can be raised or flat, round or oval, and some can have hair growing from them.

Moles are extremely common and typically appear in childhood and the early teenage years, with the average person having between 10 to 40 moles by adulthood.

How often should moles be checked?

Most moles will cause you no problems, but some can become cancerous. Experts recommend checking your moles at home every one to three months to look for any changes.

It’s essential to keep an eye on your moles if you:

• Have fair skin
• Have lots of moles on your body
• Spend a lot of time exposed to the sun
• Have an immediate family member who has many moles, atypical moles, or a history of skin cancer

A good time to check your moles is straight after a shower before you get dressed. Stand in front of a full-length mirror and scan your body for moles. Pay special attention to areas of your skin that get the most sun exposure, such as your face, arms, hands and neck.

Make sure you check every area of your body, including your genitals, between your fingers and toes and under your nails. You may need to ask someone close to you, such as a partner or friend, to check areas that are difficult to see, such as your back and scalp.

If a dermatologist or skin cancer specialist has never checked your moles, it’s a good idea to get checked.  Your dermatologist can record your moles to compare against in the future. It’s a good idea for a dermatologist to check your skin once a year.

How to tell if a mole is cancerous

Most of the time, moles are nothing to worry about. However, some moles may be a sign of melanoma, a type of skin cancer.

When checking your moles, the ABCDE rules are important signs to look for that indicate a mole could be cancerous:

• A – asymmetry: the mole is uneven in shape – one half does not match the other
• B – border: the border or edges of the mole are ragged, blurred or irregular
• C – colour: the shade is not the same throughout
• D – diameter: the diameter of the mole is over 7mm
• E – evolving: the mole changes size, shape and/or colour

Should you notice any of these changes or have any concerns about a mole, make an appointment to see a dermatologist as soon as possible. 

When to get a mole checked for cancer

You should get your moles checked for cancer if any of your moles have:

• Changed shape or has an uneven shape or texture
• Changed colour, become darker or are more than two colours
• Started itching, bleeding, crusting or flaking
• Increased in size or depth

Any of these changes can happen over weeks or months, so it’s important to check your moles and scan your skin for new ones regularly.

For more information, please read our article on the symptoms of skin cancer.

How doctors check moles for cancer

If you book an appointment to have your skin and moles checked, your skin cancer specialist will begin by asking you a series of questions, such as:

• Have you noticed any new moles?
• Have you noticed any changes in your moles?
• Have you had any moles surgically removed in the past? If so, were they found to be cancerous?
• Do you have a family history of atypical moles, skin cancer or other cancers?
• Have you ever had a severe sunburn, and do you sunbathe or use tanning beds?

Your specialist will then thoroughly inspect your skin from head to toe. To do this, they will often use a hand-held instrument like a magnifying glass called a dermatoscope to closely look at each of your moles. This non-invasive process does not hurt or affect your skin.

If they have identified a mole that causes concern, they’ll take a small biopsy to send to the lab for examination under a microscope to check for skin cancer.

Can cancerous moles be removed?

If the biopsy results find a mole to be cancerous, your skin cancer specialist will need to completely remove it along with some other tissue from the surrounding area.

This operation is called a wide local excision. The procedure’s aim is to remove any cancerous cells that could be in the area around the mole to reduce the chance of cancer spreading or coming back.

You may also require further tests or investigations to check that the cancer has not spread and to create an effective treatment plan if needed.

If you’d like to have your skin checked or are concerned about a mole, make a Check4Cancer Skin Cancer Screening & Mole Check appointment today.

Our Skin Cancer Screening & Mole Check service provides a thorough skin cancer examination and mole check. You’ll receive your results letter within five days, with professional guidance on protecting your skin.