Do I Have an Irregular Mole?

Be able to spot even the subtlest changes in your skin with our help.

Would you know how to spot the warning signs of skin cancer? Most people can’t. Unfortunately, if you’ve ever had at least one sunburn or spent any time in a tanning bed, you could be at significant risk for skin cancer. Skin cancer is prevalent, and one of the best ways to protect against it is to make sure you turn to a skincare expert, like our own Santa Barbara, CA, board-certified physicians Dr. Alexis Dougherty, Dr. Louise Stewart and Dr. Rikk Lynn, for yearly skin cancer screenings.

Know the Warning Signs 

The Skin Cancer Foundation provides the simple ABCDEs of irregular or suspicious moles. If you notice any of these changes, it’s important that you call our Santa Barbara, CA, doctors as soon as possible for an evaluation,

• Asymmetry: Healthy moles are completely symmetrical (meaning that both halves mirror each other), so if you notice an asymmetrical mole or growth, this could be a sign of melanoma.
• Border: A healthy mole should have a distinct and clearly defined border. Moles with ragged, uneven borders are more likely to be irregular and cancerous.
• Color: If your mole has multiple colors, particularly shades of red, pink, white or blue, these are warning signs of melanoma.
• Diameter: Moles larger than a pencil eraser are more likely to develop into cancerous growths. While this doesn’t necessarily mean that the mole is cancerous, you should have our Santa Barbara, CA, team monitor the growth with a yearly skin cancer screening.
• Evolving: Any changes to the overall color, size or shape of a mole are worth investigating further. If you also notice crusting, bleeding or itching, it’s probably a good idea to come in to have the mole checked

Know Your Risk Factors

While anyone can develop skin cancer, certain risk factors can increase your risk for developing melanoma or non-melanoma skin cancers during your lifetime. These risk factors include,

• Being fair-skinned
• Having light hair and light eyes
• Previous sunburns
• Extensive sun exposure (e.g., working outdoors)
• Photosensitivity
• Family history of skin cancer
• Having many moles
• Freckles
• Tanning bed use (both past and present)

Whether or not you have risk factors for skin cancer, everyone’s skin health can benefit from an evaluation with the Santa Barbara, CA, board-certified physicians at Kind Dermatology and Medical Spa. While being out in the sun can be great for our vitamin D levels, make sure you are also lathering on sunscreen if you’re going to spend any considerable time outdoors. Trust us—your skin will thank you. Call us at (805) 250-9891.