Mole Checking
Moles are common skin lesions caused by a local overgrowth of pigment cells, and are often brown as a result. The vast majority of moles are benign (non-cancerous) and can be safely left alone. Almost everyone will has at least one somewhere on their skin. Some moles are present at birth (congenital) and some appear later (acquired). There are actually a lot of different types of mole, which can make some look different to others.​Occasionally, moles can become abnormal (atypical) or even cancerous (melanoma), mostly due to sun exposure. This can happen due to a change in a pre-existing mole, or in a new mole that develops abnormally.
You should have your mole checked if:
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it is changing in size, shape or colour
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it is a new mole and you are aged 40 or above
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it is very different to the rest of your moles
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it bleeds, itches or crusts over
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Most moles with the above features are still harmless, but Dr Lowe may recommend short-term monitoring of some moles, or even surgical mole removal (excision biopsy) to exclude melanoma.