Recognition of changes in skin growths or the appearance of new growths is the best way to find early skin cancer. Adults should practice skin self-evaluation once a month, and suspicious lesions should be evaluated promptly by a physician. A sudden or progressive change in a mole's appearance should be checked by a physician. Melanomas often start as small, molelike growths that increase in size, change color, become ulcerated, and bleed easily from a slight injury. One-half of the mole does not match the other half.
B is for border irregularity.
The edges are ragged, notched, or blurred. C is for color. The pigmentation is not uniform. D is for diameter greater than 6 mm. Any sudden or progressive increase in size should be of special concern.