An early malignant melanoma is a small brown or black flat mark on the skin. It is quite normal to have some small brown moles or freckles on the skin, and most of us have ten to twenty of these as young adults. There are seven points which help to pick out an early malignant melanoma form a normal mole. After puberty, moles usually do not grow.
Ordinary moles are a smooth, regular shape.
Ordinary moles may be quite dark brown or black but are all one shade. Most normal moles are smaller than this. An ordinary one is not inflamed. Ordinary moles do not do this. An ordinary mole is not usually itchy or painful.