Be Alert for Moles After a Hot Summer

Malignant melanoma moles can be found on any part of the body but typically in men are found most commonly on the back and in women on the legs.  It is always also important to check areas that the sun does not see such as soles of feet and the bottom as they rarely can appear in areas that have never seen the sun, so no area should be neglected.

All adults should do a regular self-check for moles, looking for new or changing moles, particularly ones that stand out or look ugly compared to the other moles.  Most melanomas (70%) are new moles that often change over 3-9 months but could be a fast-growing new mole or else a pre-existing mole that changes size, shape, and colour or starts to bleed, itch or redden.

Read more in the ABCDE rule, which describes the features of early melanoma and is described further in The Facts About Moles.

Remember, the majority of moles are actually harmless, but it is very important to be alert to any that may cause a problem. If in doubt, see a GP – moles posing a medical concern are usually removed very quickly and this treatment is covered by the NHS.

Private mole removal is the fastest solution for moles that are not of medical concern; unfortunately, the NHS considers this a cosmetic issue. Mole removal either using laser or surgery is a straightforward and quick procedure with a trained doctor, requiring just a local anaesthetic and normally leaves only a very small scar.