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Read articleMole Check with ABCDE: Signs to See a Doctor
Most moles are benign and stay that way for life, but melanoma, a type of skin cancer, can start in an existing mole or appear as a new one. The good news is that early detection makes treatment much easier, and checking your skin once a month using a simple rule called ABCDE helps you notice changes. Any mole that worries you should be examined by a dermatologist; a self-check does not replace a doctor.
What is the ABCDE rule for checking moles?
The ABCDE rule is a memory aid dermatologists use for the signs that make a mole worth checking. Each letter stands for one sign:
Not every mole with one of these signs is cancer; many benign moles are slightly irregular. But any of these signs, especially change, is reason enough to see a doctor.
- A, Asymmetry: if you draw an imaginary line through the mole, the two halves do not match.
- B, Border: edges that are irregular, ragged, notched or blurred.
- C, Colour: more than one colour within the same mole, such as brown, black, red, blue or white.
- D, Diameter: larger than about 6 mm, the size of a pencil eraser, although melanomas can be smaller.
- E, Evolving: any change in size, shape, colour or height, or new symptoms such as bleeding, itching or crusting.
What is the ugly duckling sign?
Alongside ABCDE, dermatologists advise watching for the ugly duckling sign: a mole that looks different from the rest of your moles. A person's moles usually resemble each other in shape and colour, so the odd one out deserves attention even if it does not meet the ABCDE signs.
Also pay attention to new moles that appear after about age 40, because new moles become less common after that age.
How do you check your skin step by step?
Choose a fixed day each month and check your skin after a shower in a well-lit room, in front of a full-length mirror, with a hand mirror:
Photograph important moles on your phone with a small ruler beside them and compare the photos the following month. This makes changes easier to spot than relying on memory.
- Check your face, ears, neck, chest and abdomen, and for women, under the breasts.
- Raise your arms and check the armpits, arms, backs of the hands, palms and between the fingers.
- Sit down and check your legs, the soles of your feet and between your toes.
- Use the hand mirror to check your back, buttocks and the backs of your legs, or ask a family member to help.
- Part your hair with a comb or hairdryer to check your scalp.
- Check your nails, and look out for any new brown or black streak running along a nail.
Who is at higher risk of skin cancer?
Skin cancer can affect anyone, but some factors raise the risk: fair skin that burns easily, many moles or unusual-looking moles, a family history of skin cancer, severe sunburns especially in childhood, use of tanning beds, and weakened immunity.
People with darker skin are generally at lower risk, but melanoma in darker skin may appear in places that get little sun, such as the soles, palms and under the nails, so do not skip these areas.
How can you protect your moles from the sun?
The sun in the Eastern Province is strong for most of the year, and exposure rises with Corniche and beach outings and outdoor work. Daily protection lowers skin cancer risk and helps prevent new moles and spots.
Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, reapply every two hours and after swimming or sweating, avoid direct midday sun, and wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and covering clothes. Children need special care, because sunburn in childhood raises the risk later in life.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I check my moles?
A self-check once a month is recommended. How often you see a doctor depends on your risk factors; it may be yearly for people with many moles or a family history.
Is a mole that itches or bleeds always dangerous?
Not always; a mole can be irritated by rubbing or shaving. But repeated itching or bleeding without a clear cause is a sign worth having checked by a dermatologist.
How does a doctor examine a mole?
The doctor looks at it with the naked eye and usually with a dermatoscope, a lit magnifying lens that shows the mole's details painlessly. If anything looks suspicious, the doctor may suggest removing and analysing it.
Do moles change during pregnancy?
Some moles may darken slightly in pregnancy because of hormones, which is common. But any mole that grows quickly or changes unevenly needs checking, and pregnancy does not prevent that.
When to see a doctor
See a dermatologist if a mole shows any ABCDE sign or looks different from your other moles, if a new mole appears after age 40, if you notice a new dark streak in a nail, if a mole bleeds, itches or ulcerates, or if a sore does not heal within 3 to 4 weeks. You can book a consultation at Medical Care Clinics in Al-Shati Al-Gharbi, Dammam, close to Al-Khobar and Dhahran, where our dermatology team will examine your moles and reassure you or advise on the next step.
This article is general health education and does not replace a medical examination. Every case needs its own assessment by a doctor.
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