September is here and Spring has sprung! Longer daylight hours, bright blossoms and colourful flowers with the promise of warmer weather and sunshine.
New Zealand Dermatologists recommend this is a good time to check over your skin.
Normal moles are symmetrical in shape and colour, have a smooth outline and do not change in size in adults. Most people have moles that look similar over their body.
If a mole changes get it checked.
The ABCDE rule is useful to remember if your mole is changing.
- Asymmetrical (draw a line through it and the two halves look different).
- Irregular Border (uneven edges of the mole).
- Varied Colours (these can include shades of black and brown, red, pink, pale and some have no colour).
- Diameter bigger than 6 mm (bigger than the end of a big pencil).
- Evolving (changing colour, shape, itchy or getting crusty).
These can be signs of a melanoma skin cancer so arrange to have it checked urgently. The earlier a melanoma is treated the better the outcome. Melanoma is curable if caught early.