Distinguishing between a regular mole and skin cancer is not always simple. When you notice an area on your body that leaves you in doubt, it is best to let an experienced dermatologist determine whether the spot on your skin that is worrying you is a benign mole or potentially skin cancer. A dermatologist is best equipped to recognize any troubling areas, perform the necessary steps to confirm a diagnosis, and recommend and execute treatment options.

While skin cancer can be deadly, it is comforting to know that it is usually treatable in most cases when detected early. Keeping this in mind, it is prudent to have a professional evaluation from a dermatologist to differentiate between a mole and skin cancer. Below, we’ve listed a few tips to help you tell the difference between a mole and skin cancer. 

Know the Typical Shape and Size of a Mole

A mole of a typical size and shape will rarely become cancerous. Hundreds of millions of Americans have benign moles. Here are the characteristics of a typical mole:

• The width of a common mole is typically less than 5 mm.
• The color of a common mole may be brown, tan, black (if you have darker skin tone), or a color closely matching your natural skin tone. A typical mole’s color is consistent and even throughout in most cases.
• The common mole may be oval or round in shape with a clear edge that makes it distinct from the surrounding skin.
• A mole appears as a smooth and flat skin spot, and may gradually become raised like a bump on the skin.

Know the Telltale Signs of Melanoma

It’s vital to know the difference between a mole and skin cancer because melanoma (an aggressive form of skin cancer) may develop like a mole and only reveal other signs and symptoms much later. Here are the characteristics that sometimes indicate melanoma:

• The width of a cancerous skin lesion or melanoma is usually 6 mm or more.
• The color is likely to be uneven, having shades of tan, brown, or black. It may also have spots of gray, white, pink, red, or blue.
• The shape is usually asymmetrical and irregular (which means, one half of the shape is different from the other half). The lesion’s edges could be blurred, notched, or ragged, and it might merge into the surrounding areas of the skin.
• In the later stages, the lesion may appear lumpy, crusty, or scraped, and form ulcers that bleed or ooze.

Consult with a Dermatologist for Early Diagnosis

If you are concerned or unsure about the difference between a mole and skin cancer, consult with a skilled and experienced dermatologist for a definitive diagnosis. Your dermatologist will utilize the ABCDE Rule to identify the early signs of skin cancer. The ABCDE system represents:

Asymmetry: The shape of the mole is asymmetrical or irregular.

Border: The mole’s edges are blurred, notched, or ragged.

Color: The mole is unevenly colored with multiple shades or colors.

Diameter: The mole is at least 6 mm or more in diameter.

Evolving: The color, shape, size, and appearance of the mole is changing.

If they find any areas of concern, your dermatologist and their team will perform a biopsy to collect a sample to analyze and then confirm whether or not the cells are cancerous. Once you know for certain, your dermatologist will help you determine the next steps and treatment options.

Visit us to Learn More about Mole and Skin Cancer Differences

At Skincredible Dermatology & Surgery, we are committed to educating our patients about their skin condition so that they can make a timely and informed decision. If you have noticed any changes in the size, shape, color or texture of an existing mole, you have a large number of common moles in your body, or you’ve observed a new mole appear recently, you should get a skin evaluation done from the highly rated and trusted dermatologist Dr. Bobby Awadalla and PA-C Anissa Monsoori. To schedule an appointment, call us at (949) 545-6605 or complete this online form.