Warning signs

Although most moles are benign, people should see their doctor if they notice a new mole or recent changes to existing moles.

Warning signs to look for in an existing mole include:

• changes in color, shape, or size
• pain
• bleeding

People can use the American Cancer Society’s ABCDE rule to spot potential melanomas. ABCDE stands for:

• Asymmetry. Half of the mole looks different than the other half.
• Border. The mole has irregular, jagged, or blurry edges.
• Color. The mole contains a mixture of different colors.
• Diameter. The mole is bigger than 6mm in diameter.
• Evolving. The shape, size, or color of the mole changes.

Other symptoms to watch for include:

• lightening of a mole, including a white halo around its edge
• bleeding or discomfort from the mole
• a mole that looks very different than the person’s other moles

Some dermatologists may recommend that people take monthly pictures of areas with lots of moles, such as the back, in order to spot changes.

Checking areas such as the nails, feet, and hands are also important as melanomas can also arise in these locations.