What are mole checks?

Skin cancers are becoming increasingly more common, so it is vital you examine your skin regularly and get to know your moles. Moles come in all different shapes, colours and sizes. You should alert your Doctor if you develop a new mole or if existing moles change in size, shape or colour. You should also see your Doctor if a mole begins to itch or bleed.

Head to toe mole check examination by an expert

Our expert Dermatologists offer a full skin check. In this detailed examination of your skin from head to toe, all your moles and other skin lesions are examined. They are then looked at under the Dermatoscope, which enables the Dermatologist to see the pigment below the skin surface. Any abnormal moles or other lesions will be pointed out to you, and can either be monitored or removed (sometimes on the same day).

What is a mole?

Moles are harmless skin growths that are formed by a collection of skin cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes are able to produce melanin, the pigment which gives colour to the skin. This is the reason why many moles are brown in colour. Most moles develop between the ages of 5 to 30 years of age, mostly around puberty. The average young adult has about 20 to 30 moles over their body. Interestingly, moles start to disappear in later life and the average 70 year old may only have 5 to 10 moles.

A mole may be medically referred to as a melanocytic naevus (or plural, naevi). There are different types of moles as follows:

  • Junctional naevus – this is a flat mole
  • Compound naevus – this is a raised mole
  • Intradermal naevus – this is a very fleshy, raised mole
  • Dysplastic naevus – or atypical mole – see below
  • Melanoma – a cancerous mole

Who gets moles?

Virtually everyone has a mole. Fair skinned individuals tend to develop more moles than darker skinned individuals. 1% of babies are born with moles. Moles present from birth are often more warty and hairy in appearance than those that develop through life.

What do normal moles look like?

No two moles are exactly the same, even within the same person. Moles usually have an even brown colour, are symmetric and well defined. Some moles may have a hair growing through them. In later life, moles may start to loose their colour and become fleshy. This is especially so for moles on the face.

When should I be worried about a mole?

It is best to get a mole checked if it appears to be growing, becoming darker or starting to look irregular, especially if it starts standing out from the other moles. A mole that is bleeding or scabbing, or causing itch or pain should also be checked. Very occasionally moles can develop into a form of skin cancer called melanoma. Using the ABCDE criteria can help pick out melanoma (cancerous moles).

ABCDE rule for checking moles

Features to look out for in a mole that may suggest it has become cancerous are:

  • Asymmetry – does one half of the mole look the same as the other half?
  • Border – are the borders (outlines) of the mole clear and sharp, or do they look blurred, jagged or irregular?
  • Colours – are there more than 2 tones of colour? Is the colour haphazardly variable or is it even?
  • Diameter – is the mole greater than 6mm in its diameter?
  • Evolution – is the mole changing? Has it grown or change in colour in the last 3, 6 and 12 months? Or is it new?

Atypical moles (dysplastic moles)

Atypical moles are also called dysplastic moles or dysplastic naevus. An atypical mole is a benign mole, that means it is not cancerous. However it may have some feature that make it look like a cancerous mole – for example it may be irregular in size, irregular in shape or irregular in colour. An atypical mole is often more than 6 mm in size and has more than one colour. There is an increased risk of some dysplastic moles turning into cancerous moles, and your doctor may either require monitoring or removal of moles that are very atypical.

How often should I have a mole check?

Most adults benefit from a yearly skin check.

How do I monitor my moles?

It is best to check your moles over regularly (once ever couple of months) to see if any have changed. It is useful to take a photograph as a baseline to help check against, especially if you have a lot moles. It is also helpful to ask a friend or a partner to check over the back area as this is difficult to assess by yourself without two mirrors.

I have lots of moles

It is not uncommon to have more than 50 or even more than a 100 moles. It is important to get into the habit of checking your moles as described above as there is an increased of malignant change.

Can I have a mole check for peace of mind?

Certainly. A full skin check is a good way of having all your skin lesions checked over.

Mole removal

If a mole appears suspicious then your doctor will suggest removal.

We offer a full range of mole removal procedures. Moles can be removed if they are causing symptoms or if they have become an aesthetic concern.

What should I do next?

If you are worried about a mole or would like a full skin check of all your moles for peace of mind then please arrange to see one of our Dermatologists who will be happy to help.

Mole checks and treatments at Midland Skin Clinic

  • Detailed consultation and skin analysis by a Dermatologist including a full head to toe skin check assessing all moles with Dermoscopy
  • Advice on how to monitor any high risk moles
  • Serial monitoring for those with large numbers of moles or at high risk of skin cancer – your Dermatologist will check your skin every 6 to 12 months
  • Mole removal for cosmetic reasons or for analysis