Dear DOLLY, I have huge moles on my arms and they keep freaking me out. How can I tell if they're dangerous? Casey
Moles usually develop during babyhood, childhood and teenagehood. When benign (non-cancerous) moles grow during puberty, they can get quite big, they can itch a little and they can change colour. Unfortunately, these are also symptoms of early melanomas (the skin cancer that looks like a mole). Another symptom of a melanoma is bleeding, but even this can happen to a benign mole if its on a part of the body that gets rubbed or caught by clothing a lot.
Some things put people at higher risk of melanoma, including having a family history of melanoma, having had a melanoma yourself, having had lots of sunburn in the past, have a huge number (over 50) of unusual moles (very irregular in shape or colour) and having very fair skin that burns easily. It’s rare to get melanoma under 16 years of age, though not impossible. People with moles are advised to do regular “mole patrols” – check your skin and if any moles seem to be changing, keep a closer eye on them for a couple of months. You can take photos of moles and compare them a month apart. Any time you are worried about a mole, it’s wise to get your doctor to check it or go to a skin cancer clinic. By keeping your skin protected from too much sun exposure, avoiding sunburn at ALL times, wearing high SPF suncreams and hats, you’ll reduce your risk of melanoma and other skin cancers.
