Moles are common growths found on the skin. They occur when melanocytes, cells found in the skin, develop closely within a small area. These bunches of cells grow to form what we see as moles. It is normal for most people to have anywhere from 10 to 40 moles, with the majority of moles forming before a person reaches the age of 40.
About one in 10 people who have moles will develop dysplastic nevus, which simply means that a mole has become atypical of how a non-cancerous mole looks. An atypical mole is more at risk of evolving into melanoma, a deadly type of skin cancer. "ABCD" is an acronym that stands for asymmetry, border, color, and diameter. These are the four characteristics to examine when determining if moles are skin cancer.
Instructions
Step 1
Check the mole for asymmetry. If one half of the mole is shaped differently than the other half, this is a sign of melanoma.
Step 2
Examine the border of the mole. A jagged, vague or uneven border may indicate that skin cancer is present.
Step 3
Look at the color of the mole. Non-cancerous moles are usually brown, flesh-colored or pink. Skin that tanned from exposure to the sun produces more melanocytes. Moles are especially concentrated with melanocytes and, therefore, are more at risk of developing skin cancer. A mole that contains varying shades of black, brown, and tan is more susceptible to melanoma than a mole that has a lighter, single shade of color.
Step 4
Inspect the diameter of the mole. An increase in size can signal a skin cancer growth.
Step 5
Check your skin regularly for atypical moles by following the preceding steps about once a month or so.
Tips and Warnings
- Have a partner available or a mirror handy to make it easier to find and examine each mole.
- Melanoma is fairly easy to remove if detected before the cancerous cells spread to other parts of the body. This is why checking for atypical mole growth on a regular basis is so important.
