SkinHealth.Clinic

Patient guides

How to check your moles

A simple monthly routine and the ABCDE warning signs, so you know when a mole needs a doctor’s opinion.

Written and medically reviewed by Dr Ting Seng Tang, Consultant Dermatologist (GMC 7020502)

Checking your own skin regularly is one of the best ways to catch skin cancer early, when treatment is simplest. Most changes you find will be harmless, but it is worth knowing what to look for.

How to check

  • Check once a month, in good light, with a full-length mirror and a hand mirror.
  • Look everywhere: scalp, face, ears, neck, chest, under the breasts, back, buttocks, genitals, legs, soles of the feet, between the toes and under the nails.
  • Ask a partner or family member to check areas you cannot see, such as your back and scalp.
  • Take clear, well-lit photos of moles you want to watch, with something for scale, so you can compare them over time.

The ABCDE warning signs

  • Asymmetry: the two halves of the mole look different.
  • Border: the edge is irregular, ragged or blurred.
  • Colour: uneven colour, with several shades of brown, black, red, white or blue.
  • Diameter: larger than about 6 mm, although melanomas can be smaller.
  • Evolving: changing in size, shape, colour or height, or new symptoms such as itching, crusting or bleeding.

The “ugly duckling” sign

Most of a person’s moles tend to look alike. A mole that looks different from all your others is worth having checked, even if it does not fit the ABCDE rules.

What to do if you are worried

If a mole is changing quickly, bleeding, or you are worried it could be melanoma, contact your GP promptly; an urgent NHS referral may be appropriate.

For less urgent concerns, a consultant can review photos of a single mole remotely, or carry out a full skin check in clinic.

Related

This page is general information and not a substitute for individual medical advice.