

"D" is for "diameter": If a mole starts getting bigger.Īnd "E" is for "evolving": Keep checking for any other changes in a mole.īut don't just check for it.
#Abcd moles skin
"C" is for "color": If a mole changes color, doesn't match the color of other moles or varies color from one area to another. A type of mole that may develop into a type of skin cancer called malignant melanoma. The spot has an irregular, scalloped, or poorly defined border. Consult your dermatologist immediately if any of your moles or pigmented spots exhibit: One half of the spot is unlike the other half.
#Abcd moles download
"B" is for "border irregularity": If a mole starts developing a tail or irregular borders. Download the AAD's body mole map to note the results of your self-examination. Asymmetry: a mole that does not appear to be identical on. "A" is for "asymmetry": One half is unlike the other half. What moles should I be concerned about One method that is used is the ABCD rule. Newman says to remember the A, B, C, D, Es of melanoma when you're checking. "So one of the big things that we push in Dermatology is trying to get people to look at all their skin – not just the sun-exposed areas."Īnd check regularly, because the earlier you catch a melanoma, the easier it is to treat.ĭr. "Melanoma is more common in the sun-exposed areas, but. Newman says more than 1 million Americans have melanoma right now or a history of it. Melanoma is the most dangerous of the skin cancers."ĭr. "There are squamous cell cancers and melanoma. (Colors range from pinkish to brown to black.) If your mole is mottled or more than one color, it could be a sign of skin cancer. Most noncancerous moles are even in color over the entire mole. Moles that are cancerous often have borders that are irregular, jagged, or poorly defined. A mole that’s larger than 6 mm in diameter should be checked by a doctor. Varying color on a mole may be a sign that it’s cancerous. A normal mole will have a solid border, whereas an abnormal growth will be blotchy and inconsistent. Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (1:00) is in the downloads. The border refers to the margins or edges of the mole. Asymmetry refers to the shape of a mole if it’s larger on one side or another, it may be cancerous.
