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Checking Your Moles: The ABCDE Guide

Key Information

Early Detection: Most moles are harmless, but spotting changes early is vital. Changing moles can be a sign of melanoma.
The Memory Aid: Clinicians use a simple five-letter guide, ABCDE, to check moles.
The Rule: If you see any of the signs below, or if a mole just "doesn't seem right," get it checked.

The ABCDE Guide

Use these five letters to check your moles with confidence:

A - Asymmetry
- Imagine drawing a line down the middle of the mole.
- Warning Sign: If the two halves look very different from each other.
B - Border
- A normal mole usually has a smooth, even border.
- Warning Sign: If the edge is irregular, scalloped, or poorly defined.
C - Colour
- Most harmless moles are just one single shade of brown.
- Warning Sign: If the mole has multiple, blotchy colours (different shades of brown, black, tan, or even red, white, or blue).
D - Diameter
- Warning Sign: If the mole is larger than 6mm (about the size of the rubber on the end of a pencil).
- Note: Melanomas can start smaller than this.
E - Evolving (The Most Important)
- This simply means "changing."
- Warning Sign: Any mole that changes in size, shape, colour, or texture over weeks or months. Also, look out for itching or bleeding.
- If you remember only one letter, remember E.

Your Routine

We recommend that you get into the habit of checking your skin (including your back) about once a month.

What Happens Next?

If you find a mole with any of these ABCDE features, or you notice a new mark that is worrying you:

Do not wait. Finding melanoma early makes it much easier to treat.
Contact us. Use our online service to request a review.

Discuss Your Skin

Further Information

Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer: The Most Common Types

For visual examples of melanoma and more information on risk factors, please visit the NHS website.

Learn more about melanoma

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