Summer is over: time to check your moles
What you look for is less how one mole looks than change and difference. A home check does not make a diagnosis; it tells you when to see a doctor.
Author: Uzm. Dr. Oya Oylum Argun
After a period of strong sun exposure, this is a good time to go over the changes in your skin.
A home check is simple: in front of a mirror, in good light, the whole body is scanned, including the back and the scalp. What you look for is less how one mole looks than change and difference.
In dermatology, the ABCDE acronym is used for this observation:
- A — Asymmetry. One half of the mole does not match the other.
- B — Border. The edges are irregular, ragged or blurred.
- C — Colour. It has more than one shade instead of a single colour.
- D — Diameter. Usually larger than 6 mm, but being small is no guarantee.
- E — Evolving. Its shape, colour or size changes over time, or it gives a new symptom.
None of these letters on its own makes a diagnosis; together they show whether an examination is needed. An area that itches, bleeds or scabs over and does not heal should be assessed in the same way.
A home check does not make a diagnosis; it tells you when to see a doctor. When you notice a change, you do not wait.
This article is for general information and does not replace individual medical advice. The right approach for you is decided at the consultation.
Last updated: 4 September 2026
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