Millions of us have moles on our bodies and for the most part, they’re harmless.
You’ve probably had them hanging around for the majority of your life, give or take a few newbies, so you’re pretty used to them by this point and likely don’t pay the coloured spots much attention.
But as we all know, if they begin to change in size, shape or colour, it’s best to let a professional take a look.
Us mere mortals will struggle to differentiate between what’s dangerous and what’s not, but doctors see this sort of thing on a regular basis and have a good eye for spotting something that looks sinister.
And thanks to the power of social media, all of us lot can benefit from their expertise without visiting a health clinic.
A doctor has taken to TikTok to explain the five main ‘red flag’ signs to look out for which could indicate that a mole on your skin could be cancerous.
Keep an eye on whether your moles change in size, shape or colour (Getty Stock Image)
Dr Sooj, a GP from Hertfordshire, posted an extremely informative clip on the video sharing platform educating people on characteristics which signal it may be a melanoma.
This is a type of skin cancer which can spread to other parts of the body, and is mainly caused by exposure to ultraviolet light from sources such as the sun and sunbeds.
Age, paleness of skin, moles and a family history of the disease are all contributing factors in the potential development of skin cancer, but those who are often exposed to the sun have a higher chance of developing it.
According to Cancer Research UK, it really helps to ‘know how your skin normally looks’ if you want to spot skin cancer early, as you are more likely to spot changes easily.
Melanomas can be detected using the ABCDE checklist (Getty Stock Image)
Anyway, back to Dr Sooj – the NHS GP and A&E responder talked his followers through the ‘ABCDE checklist’, which is a framework which doctors use to try and determine if they’ve come across a melanoma.
He explained: “A stands for asymmetrical. Melanomas usually have an uneven shape and two very different halves.
“B stands for border. Melanomas usually have an irregular or ragged border.
“C stands for colours. Melanomas usually have a mix of two or more colours.
“D stands for diameter. Melanomas are usually more than six millimetres wide. Six millimetres is about the same size as a pencil rubber.
“E stands for evolving. A mole that changes shape, size or colour, or bleeds or itches or becomes crusty, is more likely to be a melanoma.”
Dr Sooj went on to explain that melanomas can appear anywhere on your body, although the most common areas to find them are on the back and legs.
He continued: “But some rarer types can develop inside the eye, on the soles of your feet, on the palms of your hands or on the genitals. Check your skin for any unusual changes or new growths.
“Use a mirror or ask a partner or friend to check any areas that you can’t see. “Think about taking a photo so you can see any changes over a period of time. If you’ve noticed any unusual changes, see your GP.”
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images
Topics: TikTok, Health, Cancer, News
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
