Moles: What’s normal and what’s suspicious?

Moles are small spots on your skin. Almost everyone has them, and most are harmless. But some changes can indicate skin cancer, so it’s important to know what’s normal and when to seek professional advice (Cancer Council Australia, 2024).

Normal moles

• Typically circular with smooth edges 
• Can be brown, flat, smooth, rough, and sometimes have hair 
• Common from birth or appearing in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood
• Can fade, disappear, or darken during pregnancy 
  

It’s normal for moles to change subtly over time, but significant or rapid changes should be assessed by a doctor (Australasian College of Dermatologists, 2024).

Suspicious moles

A mole may be concerning if it shows any of the following ABC signs of melanoma: 

• Asymmetry: halves do not match 
• Border: edges are uneven or notched 
• Colour: multiple colours present 

Other warning signs include: 

• Diameter larger than 6 mm (about the size of a pencil eraser) 
• Raised, firm, or nodular 
• Growing quickly over weeks or months 
• Bleeding, crusting, or becoming itchy 
• New moles appearing after age 30 

When to see a doctor about your moles

Outside of your annual full-body skin check, you should see a doctor if any mole: 

• Changes in size, shape, or colour
• Becomes crusted, itchy, flaky, or bleeds easily
• Won’t heal after a few weeks
• Appears new, especially after age 30

Skin checks are available across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania. No referral is required. 

Assessment and removal 

If a mole appears suspicious during examination, your doctor may perform a biopsy to determine if it is malignant (Cancer Council Australia, 2024). Treatment options depend on the diagnosis and may include excision or topical therapy. Sometimes the biopsy removes the entire mole, and no further treatment is needed. 

Non-cancerous moles can usually be safely removed after a professional assessment. Removing any lesion without proper examination can be dangerous (Australasian College of Dermatologists, 2024).

Prevention 

Most skin cancers develop independently of existing moles. The majority are caused by unprotected or prolonged UV exposure (QLD Health, 2024; Cancer Council Australia, 2024). Steps to reduce your risk include: 

• Apply sunscreen daily and reapply every two hours (Cancer Council Australia, 2024)
• Avoid peak UV hours (QLD Health, 2024)
• Cover exposed skin with hats, sunglasses, and clothing
• Seek shade when possible
• Never use solariums
• Monitor your skin for new or changing moles between professional checks
• Book an annual full-body skin check using dermoscopy at your local Skin Cancer Centre.

References

1. Cancer Council Australia. (2024). Skin cancer. https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/types-of-cancer/skin-cancer
2. Cancer Council Australia. (2024). Preventing skin cancer (Sun safety). https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/sun-safety/preventing-skin-cancer
3. Healthdirect Australia. (2024). Skin cancer and melanomas. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/skin-cancer-and-melanomas
4. Queensland Government Health. (2024). Reduce the risk of skin cancer. https://www.qld.gov.au/health/staying-healthy/preventing-skin-cancer/reduce-the-risk
5. Cancer Council Queensland. (2024). Sun protection and skin cancer prevention. https://cancerqld.org.au/cancer-prevention/sun-protection/
6. Australasian College of Dermatologists. (2024). A‑Z of skin: Moles. https://www.dermcoll.edu.au/atoz/moles/