MOLES AND MELANOMA



Serving Hamilton, Stoney Creek, Grimsby and surrounding areas.


How to recognize a 'bad' mole

  • 'A' - Asymmetrical shape (one half of the mole is not identical to the other)
  • 'B' - Border that is irregular, notched or 'fuzzy'
  • 'C' - Colour - more than one colour (brown, black, white, pink, blue)
  • 'D' - Diameter - greater than 6 mm (the size of a pencil eraser)
  • 'E' - Evolution - a mole in which one of the above characteristics is changing

A mole with some of these features is not necessarily a skin cancer, but should be checked by your dermatologist.

How to check your moles

  • Examine your skin once per month.
  • Stand undressed, three feet in front of a full-length mirror, any moles that you cannot see from three feet away are generally nothing to worry about.
  • Try to recognize patterns of the moles in your skin.
  • Use a small hand held mirror combined with the full-length mirror to look at your back and the backs of your legs. These are the most common locations for melanoma.
  • Look for the appearance of new moles and the features described above in the description of "bad" moles.
  • Follow up with your dermatologist at least once a year to have your moles checked. If you have any moles that are changing or that you are worried about you should have them checked sooner.

Prevention of Skin Cancer:

  • Wear a hat with a broad brim and protective clothing (e.g. long sleeves).
  • Avoid the outdoors when the sun is strongest between the hours of 10 am to 3 pm.
  • Use a sunscreen year round with an SPF of at least 30
  • Wear a sunscreen which resists water and sweating and which protects against both UVA and UVB.
  • Reapply sunscreen every hour if you are in water or sweating heavily.
  • Wear sunscreen even if you are in the shade, it is still possible to burn.
  • Avoid tanning beds. The ultraviolet light they produce causes skin cancer.