One of the best ways to protect yourself from skin cancer is to know what to look for in your moles. Early detection of the problem is the best way to catch it and to ensure that you don't have serious complications down the road. Here are some things that you should be looking for in your moles.
1. Symmetry
Moles shouldn't look pear shaped or unsymmetrical, instead it should be a perfect circle or at the very least symmetrical if you were to cover half of it up. It is especially problematic if the mole used to be symmetrical and then over time the shape of the mole changes. If you notice the mole no longer looks symmetrical, get it checked by your doctor.
2. Color
The color of the mole is very important. You should be checking on the color of the mole often to make sure that it staying the same. There isn't really a color that a mole should be; it should just stay constant for what it has been for years. If over time the color becomes lighter or if the color is different on one side of the mole, then this is a problem and can be the sign that the mole is cancerous.
3. Border
All healthy moles should have a border around them. This means that there should be a line around the mole that seems to be keeping the actual mole inside of it. There should be no bleeding outside the mole or any kind of break in the border. You might notice that at the beginning the mole seems to be in the border, then is starts to just slightly come out. But over time it will really bleed out if it has become cancerous. This can be very dangerous, which is why you should get the mole checked out right away.
4. Hair
If your mole is hairy you have no reason to panic. If the skin around or inside the mole can grow hair from it, it means it is healthy and has no cancer in it. If a mole that used to grow hair no longer has hair then it could be problematic. If you notice any of these problems with your moles you need to talk to a dermatologist. Even if you don't think there are any problems it is always good to be preventative and get regular checkups.
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