5 Things to Know About Moles

[This article about Mole Removal started Saturday.]

1. Most moles are benign.

2. Most moles fade with time.

3. Moles should be regularly monitored for suspicious changes.

4. One study found a positive correlation between the number of moles and longer telomere length which may mean that people with more moles have a lower risk of certain age-related diseases.

5. Moles are sometimes referred to as “beauty marks”.

How to Monitor Moles for Suspicious Changes

While periodic skin cancer screening by a medical professional is recommended, you can self-monitor at home between appointments.

Be alert for any changes that may indicate malignancy: change in a mole’s color, height, size or shape; tenderness or pain; bleeding or oozing; itching or scaling.

The ABCDE acronym for cancer markers provides an easy way to remember what to look for when self monitoring your moles.

A is for Asymmetrical; B is for uneven Border; C is for unusual or multi- Color; D is for Diameter greater than a pencil’s attached eraser (6mm or ¼”); and E is for Evolving or changing over time.

It helps to have photos of your moles to which you can refer when monitoring for changes.

I hope this is helpful.

Regards,
Jean

[Jean is not a doctor and this article should not be taken as medical advice.]

Tags: medical mole removal, mole monitoring, skin cancer screening, home mole removal, mole removal products, ABCDE Markers, things to know about moles