What is your skin trying to tell you?

ASYMMETRY
This benign mole is not asymmetrical. If you draw a line through the middle, the two sides will match, meaning it is symmetrical.

If you draw a line through this mole, the two halves will not match, meaning it is asymmetrical, a warning sign for melanoma.

BORDER
A benign mole has smooth, even borders, unlike the one on the opposite page.

The borders of an early melanoma tend to be uneven. The edges may be scalloped or notched.

COLOR
Most benign moles are all one color - often a single shade of brown.

Having a variety of colors is another warning signal. A number of different shades of brown, tan or black could appear. A melanoma may also become red, white or blue.

DIAMETER
Benign moles usually have a smaller diameter than malignant ones.

Melanomas usually are larger in diameter than the size of the eraser on your pencil (1/4 inch or 6 mm), but they may sometimes be smaller when first detected.

EVOLVING
Common, benign moles look the same over time. Be on alert when a mole starts to evolve or change in any way.

When a mole is evolving, see a doctor. Any change - in size, shape, color, elevation, or another trait, or any new symptom such as bleeding, itching or crusting - points to danger.