When a mole is worth having checked

Most moles stay the same for life and never become a problem. Some change, and it is precisely the change that interests the dermatologist. You do not need to be able to tell the types of mole apart; it is enough to notice that something is no longer as it was.

For assessment, specialists use the ABCDE rule. A stands for asymmetry, meaning the two halves of the mole do not match. B stands for a border that is jagged, blurred or irregular. C stands for colour that is not even but combines several shades of brown, black, red or white. D stands for a diameter of more than about six millimetres. E stands for evolution, meaning change over time.

At home, the last letter is the most useful. A mole that grows over a few months, changes shape or colour, starts to itch, bleed or flake should be checked regardless of its size. The same goes for a sore that has not healed for several weeks, and for a mole that stands out from all the others on your skin.

Check yourself once a month, after a shower, in good light. Use a large mirror and a hand mirror for your back, the backs of your legs and the soles of your feet, and ask someone else to look at your back. A phone photo is a more honest memory than your own; next time you compare the picture, not a feeling. Check your scalp, the spaces between your toes and your nails too, as melanoma also appears where there is hardly any sun.

Some people check themselves more often and have a reason to: a large number of moles, fair skin that burns easily, sunburn in childhood, work or sport in the sun, and melanoma in themselves or in close family. For them, regular examinations by a dermatologist also make sense, not just self-checks.

At the examination, the dermatologist examines the skin systematically and under magnification. If a change is suspicious, they suggest removing it for histological examination. If not, you often agree on monitoring and a repeat examination after a set time. Come without nail varnish and without make-up, and say which medicines you take and which products you use on your skin. A removed lesion is examined by a pathologist, so the histology report that arrives later is part of the treatment, not a formality.

Sun protection remains the most tangible part of prevention: shade in the middle of the day, clothing, a hat and a high-protection sunscreen applied in sufficient amounts and again after swimming. A sunbed is not a safer version of the sun.

The dermatology clinic at the centre is self-pay, so you do not need a referral. Booking is with the provider that runs the clinic, via an online form or by phone. If you have already photographed the mole, bring the picture; comparison with how it looked a few months ago is information that a single examination cannot provide.