Moles and Skin Cancer: How to Check With ABCDE

Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer, but when caught early it’s usually very treatable. Checking your skin once a month takes ten minutes and could save your life.

Imagine your partner mentioning that a mole on your back looks darker and bigger than last summer. You hadn’t noticed, since you can’t see it. You get it checked, and it’s removed as an early melanoma. A simple monthly check, with a little help, made all the difference.

The ABCDE rule

• A – Asymmetry: the two halves don’t match
• B – Border: ragged, notched or blurred edges
• C – Colour: uneven, with several shades of brown, black, red, white or blue
• D – Diameter: larger than about 6 mm, though melanomas can be smaller
• E – Evolving: changing in size, shape, colour or height, or new symptoms like itching, bleeding or crusting

Also look out for the “ugly duckling”: a mole that looks different from your others.

How to check your skin

• Use good light, a full-length mirror and a hand mirror
• Check everywhere, including scalp, between toes, soles, palms, nails and genitals
• Ask someone to check your back and scalp
• Take photos of moles to compare over time

But am I at risk?

Risk is higher if you have fair skin that burns easily, lots of moles, a history of sunburn or sunbed use, or a family history of melanoma. People with darker skin can get melanoma too, often on the palms, soles, under nails or in the mouth, and it’s frequently diagnosed later. Any new dark streak under a nail should be checked.

Sources: World Health Organization (Skin cancers), American Academy of Dermatology (ABCDEs of melanoma), British Association of Dermatologists, Skin Cancer Foundation.