Check your moles

The South London Private GP hopes that everyone has enjoyed the sun in the last few months whether it’s been in the UK or you’ve been lucky enough to get further afield! We thought it was a good time to remind everyone about staying safe in the sun and learning how to identify changes that may be a sign of melanoma.

• 9 in 10 people diagnosed with melanoma today are predicted to survive their disease for at least ten years. 

• Around 17,500 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed in the UK each year. 

• About 1 in 41 UK females and 1 in 35 UK males will be diagnosed with melanoma in their lifetime.

  
  

  Here is a method you could use to check your moles

• A: Asymmetry One half of the mole doesn't match the other half

• B: Border: The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred

• C: Colour: The mole has uneven color, with shades of black, brown, and tan, or areas of white, gray, red, pink, or blue

• D: Diameter: The mole has changed in size, usually increasing

• E: Evolving: The mole has changed over the past few weeks or months 

Some other signs to monitor for are:

• Itching

• Bleeding

• Crusting

• Jagged edges, tails, bleeding, or ulceration

• Two or three colors present or distributed unevenly

• Diameter greater than or equal to 6 mm 

Sometimes it can be helpful to take photos, or ask somebody else to check them if they are in a hard to reach position. And remember to always use SPF or cover up when in the sun especially during the hottest part of the day!

Who is at higher risk? Some individuals may be at higher risk of developing skin cancer due to genetics or lifestyle/environmental factors such as

·      Being exposed to high levels of UV light

·      Pale skin that burns easily

·      Blonde or red hair

·      A family history of melanoma

·      Larger moles bigger than 6mm or if you have lots of moles or freckles

·      Using sunbeds

What to do if you have concerns?

Contact a GP or clinician at the surgery in Chislehurst on 020 8629 4060 or visit our website https://www.southlondonprivategp.co.uk to book an appointment and they will be able to review your moles and advise if there is cause to be concerned. They might refer you to a dermatologist (skin specialist) if they can’t be certain that everything is normal. Remember most patients who are referred do not turn out to have skin cancer but it’s best to be safe.