Moles
Moles are collections of pigment-producing cells in the skin. Almost all of them are harmless and need nothing at all.
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Moles are collections of pigment-producing cells in the skin. Almost all of them are harmless and need nothing at all. The practical question is a different one: how to tell an ordinary mole from one worth showing a doctor, without spending your life monitoring your skin. A melanoma caught early is curable in the vast majority of cases, and that is where the whole value of a simple check lies.
What is normal
- an adult has between 10 and 40 moles; they continue to appear until the age of 30–40;
- new moles are normal in childhood and adolescence;
- they may be flat or raised, smooth or hairy;
- the colour ranges from light to dark brown, and on fair skin they can be pink;
- in pregnancy and puberty they may darken and grow a little, symmetrically;
- over the years some fade or disappear;
- one person's moles usually resemble each other — that is their "signature pattern".
The ABCDE rule
This is the simplest way to check yourself. Show a doctor any mole that meets one of these points:
- A — Asymmetry: one half does not match the other;
- B — Border: irregular, notched or blurred;
- C — Colour: several shades within one mole, or black, red, blue or white areas;
- D — Diameter: over 6 mm, though size alone decides nothing;
- E — Evolving: any change in size, shape, colour or elevation. This is the most important of the five.
There is also the ugly duckling sign: a mole that clearly stands out from all the others, even if it looks unremarkable on its own. This is a very useful clue, sometimes more so than ABCDE.
When to see a doctor
- a mole has changed over recent months;
- it itches, hurts, bleeds or weeps;
- a crust has formed that does not heal;
- a new mole has appeared after the age of 40;
- one mole looks unlike all the others;
- a dark area has appeared under a nail without any injury;
- a new mark has appeared on the sole, the palm or a mucous membrane;
- you have many atypical moles or a family history of melanoma;
- you have had blistering sunburn, particularly in childhood.
Who is at higher risk
- fair skin that burns easily, blond or red hair, light eyes;
- more than 50 moles, or atypical moles;
- melanoma in a first-degree relative, or a personal history of it;
- severe sunburn, especially in childhood;
- sunbed use;
- reduced immunity or immunosuppressive treatment;
- intense sun exposure through work or leisure.
How it is assessed
The doctor examines the mole with a dermatoscope, an instrument that magnifies and reveals structures invisible to the naked eye. In people with many moles, photographic mapping is used for comparison over time — the best way to detect change. If there is any doubt, the whole mole is removed and analysed. A suspicious mole is never sampled in part: the biopsy must include all of it.
Removal
- for suspicion: it is removed and always sent for analysis;
- for nuisance: if it catches on clothing, a bra strap or a razor;
- for cosmetic reasons: a legitimate choice, but the result always leaves a scar;
- never with laser, cryotherapy or home remedies without a diagnosis: this destroys the mole without allowing analysis and can delay the diagnosis of a melanoma;
- never at a beauty salon without prior medical assessment.
How to check yourself
- once a month, in good light with a mirror, after a shower;
- always follow the same order: face and neck, trunk, arms, hands and nails, legs, feet and between the toes, groin, scalp;
- ask for help with your back or use your phone camera;
- photograph the moles you want to watch, with something for scale beside them and always in the same conditions;
- there is no need to catalogue every mole: it is enough to know your pattern and spot what falls outside it.
Prevention
- broad-spectrum high-factor sunscreen, applied generously and reapplied every two hours;
- shade during the middle of the day;
- clothing, a hat and sunglasses;
- no sunbeds;
- protect children particularly: burns in childhood count for a lifetime;
- regular dermatology review if you are in a risk group.
Common questions
Is it dangerous to pull a hair from a mole? No. You can shave or trim it without concern.
Can rubbing a mole make it malignant? A single injury does not turn a benign mole into a melanoma. But a mole that bleeds without cause should be shown to a doctor.
Should moles be removed "just in case"? No. Removing healthy moles does not reduce melanoma risk.
Can melanoma appear where there is no mole? Yes — most arise on previously normal skin. That is why the whole skin is checked, not just the moles.
What about moles in areas that never see sun? They need checking too: melanoma occurs on soles, palms, nails and mucous membranes.
Online consultation
In an online consultation the doctor reviews photographs of your moles using ABCDE and the ugly duckling sign, advises which need in-person dermatoscopy and which simply need watching, teaches you how to examine yourself and photograph properly, and assesses your personal melanoma risk.
This material is for information only and does not replace a medical consultation.
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Reviewed on Aug 8, 2026
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