Risks of Moles

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Most types of skin cancer are caused by exposure to the sun. However, one in ten of us have a mole thatâ€™s abnormal (dysplastic nevi), and more likely to turn into a melanoma than a normal mole. Abnormal moles are usually flat, fairly large moles. They tend to have irregular borders and uneven colour, sometimes showing lots of different shades. Abnormal moles are sometimes wrongly diagnosed as melanoma because they can look very similar.

Solar keratoses, or 'sunspots', are small, red, flattish areas of scaly skin on the body that may sting if scratched. They are most common in people over the age of 40 who have spent a lot of time in the sun, and are another sign that you may be more prone to melanoma.

Your risk of melanoma is also increased if you have a lot of moles â€“ more than about 25. You should be very careful in the sun and check your moles regularly for any sign of change. This is particularly important if thereâ€™s a history of melanoma in your family.

Other risk factors for melanoma include:

Having a lot of freckles;
Having very pale skin;
Being female (melanoma is more common in women than men);
Getting very sunburnt on a lot of occasions; and
Spending a lot of time sunbathing.