Beauty Mark or Worry?

“Do moles come from sun exposure?”

No matter how old you are, your skin can have problems if you spend too much time in the sun or get a bad sunburn. UV light from the sun is one of many things that can cause new moles to appear.

You can start to protect your skin from the sun by putting on sunblock, wearing protective clothing, and wearing a hat. When moles are found, it is important to keep an eye on them. Parents, keep an eye on your kids. Teach teens and young adults to take a hand mirror and look at the marks on their bodies to get used to them. The signs to look for are the same for a child, a mother, or a grandparent.

The first five letters of the alphabet, “ABCDE,” can help you remember what might be worrying about a mole on your skin. If you have a mole and aren’t sure if it’s normal or if it’s cancer, think about the following:

A: Is it off-center? If so, you should talk to a doctor at Brithika.

B: What does the border look like? If the edges aren’t straight, scalloped, notched, or jagged, that could be a sign of a change that could be worrying.

C: What colour is it? If the mole is all the same colour, tan or dark, it’s fine. If a mole has more than one colour, you should have your doctor look at it.

D: How big is the circle? If the mole is bigger than the eraser on the back of a pencil, it’s bigger than usual and you should see a doctor.

E: Is it evolving? Changes that happen quickly, like getting a little bit bigger, darker, or more scaly, should be checked out by your doctor. Moles can change over time in children as they grow, but if the change is uneven or only happening in one part of the mole, your dermatologist should look at it.

If your doctor is worried about a mole, she will tell you to get rid of it. You shouldn’t be afraid to get a mole taken off if you need to. It is a safe and easy process that can be done in the office. After the skin is taken off, a pathologist looks at it under a microscope to see if it is a normal mole, an unusual mole, or a type of skin cancer. The right treatment will depend on the diagnosis.

A skin self-exam is a good way to get into the habit of regularly checking your skin and moles. If you are worried or have any of the above symptoms, you should see a dermatologist.