How to check your moles at home, and when to get them looked at

Most moles are harmless. But checking your skin regularly is one of the simplest things you can do for your health, because skin cancer is much easier to treat when it is found early. Here is how to check your moles at home, what to look for, and when to get a mole looked at by a specialist.

How to check your moles at home

Try to check your skin once a month. It only takes a few minutes.

• Use a full-length mirror and a hand mirror, in a room with good light.
• Check everywhere, including your scalp, the backs of your legs, the soles of your feet, between your toes and under your nails. Melanoma can appear on skin that rarely sees the sun.
• Ask someone to check areas you can't see easily, like your back and scalp.
• Take photos on your phone of any moles you want to keep an eye on, so you can compare them next month.

What to look for: the ABCDE guide

Doctors often use the ABCDE guide to describe the changes that are worth getting checked.

• A for asymmetry. The two halves of the mole look different.
• B for border. The edges are ragged, blurred or irregular.
• C for colour. The mole has more than one colour, or uneven shades of brown, black, red, pink or blue.
• D for diameter. The mole is wider than about 6mm, the size of a pencil rubber, although melanomas can be smaller.
• E for evolving. The mole is changing in size, shape, colour or height.

Also look out for a mole that bleeds, itches, crusts or feels different, a new mole that appears in adulthood, and any mole that looks unlike your others. This is sometimes called the "ugly duckling" sign.

Who should check more often

• People with lots of moles
• People with a personal or family history of skin cancer
• People with fair skin that burns easily
• Anyone who has had sunburn often, especially in childhood
• People who spend a lot of time outdoors

When to get a mole looked at

If you notice any of the changes above, get the mole checked. If a mole is changing quickly, bleeding or you are worried, see your GP promptly. Most moles that are checked turn out to be harmless, so there is no need to feel embarrassed about asking.

Mole screening at our clinic

If you want a specialist to look at a mole without a long wait, we offer mole screening at our nurse-led clinic in Hadleigh using the MapMyMole service.

1. Your history. Anna, our NHS-trained registered nurse, talks through any changes you have noticed, your skin history and any family history.
2. Detailed images. Each mole or lesion is examined with a dermoscope and photographed in detail. Up to 3 lesions per appointment.
3. Consultant dermatologist review. Your images and history are sent to a consultant dermatologist, who reviews them and flags anything that needs a closer look.
4. Your report within 48 hours. You get advice on follow-up, and onward referral if it is needed.

Mole screening costs £80 for a 30-minute appointment, covering up to 3 lesions. All prices include VAT.

Why we photograph moles instead of removing them

Most moles we photograph aren't suspicious. They just have unusual features. Having a specialist review detailed images avoids removing harmless moles, while making sure the ones that need a closer look are flagged quickly.

Protecting your skin

• Wear a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every day, and reapply when you are outdoors.
• Seek shade in the middle of the day in summer.
• Cover up with clothing, a hat and sunglasses.
• Never use sunbeds.

This guide is general information and isn't a replacement for medical advice. If you are worried about a mole, speak to your GP or book a screening.

Book in Hadleigh

Our clinic in Hadleigh is easy to reach from Leigh-on-Sea, Benfleet and Rayleigh.

Read more and book mole screening