What are moles?

Moles are small, dark marks that appear on your skin. They are usually round in shape and can sometimes be raised from the skin.

Most moles are harmless but some types can develop into skin cancer. This is usually caused by long periods of exposure to the sun.

If you have a mole you should:

• avoid scratching or picking it – keeping children’s finger nails short and trimmed may help stop them scratching their moles
• if your mole is in a vulnerable area where it could be knocked or scraped against something, you should try to protect it
• try to keep it out of direct sunlight as much as possible. Read about sun safety and sunburn prevention in this article.

Checking your moles

It’s important to look out for any changes to the shape, size and colour of your moles. You should see your doctor if you become concerned about any moles or if you notice any changes.

You should check your moles regularly and look out for the following:

• changes to the size and shape of your moles
• any changes to the colour of a mole – look out for moles that have several colours or shades
• any bleeding, soreness, itching or inflammation
• a crusty or flaky appearance developing
• new moles which look different or unusual.