           Moles       Open pop-up dialog box          Close    Moles   Moles Moles are usually harmless. They may contain hairs or become raised or wrinkled. Talk to your doctor about any change in the color or size of a mole or if itching, pain, bleeding or inflammation develops.               Moles       Open pop-up dialog box           Moles       Open pop-up dialog box  Open pop-up dialog box       Close    Moles   Moles Moles are usually harmless. They may contain hairs or become raised or wrinkled. Talk to your doctor about any change in the color or size of a mole or if itching, pain, bleeding or inflammation develops.          Close    Moles   Moles Moles are usually harmless. They may contain hairs or become raised or wrinkled. Talk to your doctor about any change in the color or size of a mole or if itching, pain, bleeding or inflammation develops.        Close    Moles   Moles Moles are usually harmless. They may contain hairs or become raised or wrinkled. Talk to your doctor about any change in the color or size of a mole or if itching, pain, bleeding or inflammation develops.     Close    Close  Close Moles   Moles Moles are usually harmless. They may contain hairs or become raised or wrinkled. Talk to your doctor about any change in the color or size of a mole or if itching, pain, bleeding or inflammation develops.  Moles Moles are usually harmless. They may contain hairs or become raised or wrinkled. Talk to your doctor about any change in the color or size of a mole or if itching, pain, bleeding or inflammation develops. Moles are usually harmless. They may contain hairs or become raised or wrinkled. Talk to your doctor about any change in the color or size of a mole or if itching, pain, bleeding or inflammation develops.            Melanoma       Open pop-up dialog box          Close    Melanoma   Melanoma The first sign of melanoma is often a mole that changes size, shape or color. This melanoma shows color variations and an irregular border, both of which are melanoma warning signs.               Melanoma       Open pop-up dialog box           Melanoma       Open pop-up dialog box  Open pop-up dialog box       Close    Melanoma   Melanoma The first sign of melanoma is often a mole that changes size, shape or color. This melanoma shows color variations and an irregular border, both of which are melanoma warning signs.          Close    Melanoma   Melanoma The first sign of melanoma is often a mole that changes size, shape or color. This melanoma shows color variations and an irregular border, both of which are melanoma warning signs.        Close    Melanoma   Melanoma The first sign of melanoma is often a mole that changes size, shape or color. This melanoma shows color variations and an irregular border, both of which are melanoma warning signs.     Close    Close  Close Melanoma   Melanoma The first sign of melanoma is often a mole that changes size, shape or color. This melanoma shows color variations and an irregular border, both of which are melanoma warning signs.  Melanoma The first sign of melanoma is often a mole that changes size, shape or color. This melanoma shows color variations and an irregular border, both of which are melanoma warning signs. The first sign of melanoma is often a mole that changes size, shape or color. This melanoma shows color variations and an irregular border, both of which are melanoma warning signs. Melanomas can develop anywhere on your body. They most often develop in areas that have had exposure to the sun, such as your back, legs, arms and face. Melanomas can also occur in areas that don't receive much sun exposure, such as the soles of your feet, palms of your hands and fingernail beds. These hidden melanomas are more common in people with darker skin. The first melanoma signs and symptoms often are:  A change in an existing mole The development of a new pigmented or unusual-looking growth on your skin  Melanoma doesn't always begin as a mole. It can also occur on otherwise normal-appearing skin. Normal moles Normal moles are generally a uniform color — such as tan, brown or black — with a distinct border separating the mole from your surrounding skin. They're oval or round and usually smaller than 1/4 inch (about 6 millimeters) in diameter — the size of a pencil eraser. Most moles begin appearing in childhood and new moles may form until about age 40. By the time they are adults, most people have between 10 and 40 moles. Moles may change in appearance over time and some may even disappear with age. Unusual moles that may indicate melanoma To help you identify characteristics of unusual moles that may indicate melanomas or other skin cancers, think of the letters ABCDE:  A is for asymmetrical shape. Look for moles with irregular shapes, such as two very different-looking halves. B is for irregular border. Look for moles with irregular, notched or scalloped borders — characteristics of melanomas. C is for changes in color. Look for growths that have many colors or an uneven distribution of color. D is for diameter. Look for new growth in a mole larger than 1/4 inch (about 6 millimeters). E is for evolving. Look for changes over time, such as a mole that grows in size or that changes color or shape. Moles may also evolve to develop new signs and symptoms, such as new itchiness or bleeding.  Cancerous (malignant) moles vary greatly in appearance. Some may show all of the changes listed above, while others may have only one or two unusual characteristics. Hidden melanomas Melanomas can also develop in areas of your body that have little or no exposure to the sun, such as the spaces between your toes and on your palms, soles, scalp or genitals. These are sometimes referred to as hidden melanomas because they occur in places most people wouldn't think to check. When melanoma occurs in people with darker skin, it's more likely to occur in a hidden area. Hidden melanomas include:  Melanoma under a nail. Acral-lentiginous melanoma is a rare form of melanoma that can occur under a fingernail or toenail. It can also be found on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet. It's more common in people of Asian descent, black people and in others with dark skin pigment. Melanoma in the mouth, digestive tract, urinary tract or vagina. Mucosal melanoma develops in the mucous membrane that lines the nose, mouth, esophagus, anus, urinary tract and vagina. Mucosal melanomas are especially difficult to detect because they can easily be mistaken for other far more common conditions. Melanoma in the eye. Eye melanoma, also called ocular melanoma, most often occurs in the uvea — the layer beneath the white of the eye (sclera). An eye melanoma may cause vision changes and may be diagnosed during an eye exam. 
           moles       open pop-up dialog box          close    moles   moles moles harmless  may contain hairs raised wrinkled  talk doctor change color size mole itching  pain  bleeding inflammation develops                moles       open pop-up dialog box           moles       open pop-up dialog box  open pop-up dialog box       close    moles   moles moles harmless  may contain hairs raised wrinkled  talk doctor change color size mole itching  pain  bleeding inflammation develops           close    moles   moles moles harmless  may contain hairs raised wrinkled  talk doctor change color size mole itching  pain  bleeding inflammation develops         close    moles   moles moles harmless  may contain hairs raised wrinkled  talk doctor change color size mole itching  pain  bleeding inflammation develops      close    close  close moles   moles moles harmless  may contain hairs raised wrinkled  talk doctor change color size mole itching  pain  bleeding inflammation develops   moles moles harmless  may contain hairs raised wrinkled  talk doctor change color size mole itching  pain  bleeding inflammation develops  moles harmless  may contain hairs raised wrinkled  talk doctor change color size mole itching  pain  bleeding inflammation develops             melanoma       open pop-up dialog box          close    melanoma   melanoma first sign melanoma mole changes size  shape color  melanoma shows color variations irregular border  melanoma warning signs                melanoma       open pop-up dialog box           melanoma       open pop-up dialog box  open pop-up dialog box       close    melanoma   melanoma first sign melanoma mole changes size  shape color  melanoma shows color variations irregular border  melanoma warning signs           close    melanoma   melanoma first sign melanoma mole changes size  shape color  melanoma shows color variations irregular border  melanoma warning signs         close    melanoma   melanoma first sign melanoma mole changes size  shape color  melanoma shows color variations irregular border  melanoma warning signs      close    close  close melanoma   melanoma first sign melanoma mole changes size  shape color  melanoma shows color variations irregular border  melanoma warning signs   melanoma first sign melanoma mole changes size  shape color  melanoma shows color variations irregular border  melanoma warning signs  first sign melanoma mole changes size  shape color  melanoma shows color variations irregular border  melanoma warning signs  melanomas can develop body  develop areas exposure sun  back  legs  arms face  melanomas can occur areas don't receive sun exposure  soles feet  palms hands fingernail beds  hidden melanomas common people darker skin  first melanoma signs symptoms are:  change existing mole development new pigmented unusual-looking growth skin  melanoma doesn't begin mole  can occur normal-appearing skin  normal moles normal moles generally uniform color — tan  brown black — distinct border separating mole surrounding skin  they're oval round smaller 1/4 inch (about 6 millimeters) diameter — size pencil eraser  moles begin childhood new moles may form age 40  time adults  people 10 40 moles  moles may change appearance time may disappear age  unusual moles may melanoma help identify characteristics unusual moles may melanomas skin cancers  think letters abcde:  asymmetrical shape  look moles irregular shapes  different-looking halves  irregular border  look moles irregular  notched scalloped borders — characteristics melanomas  changes color  look growths colors uneven distribution color  diameter  look new growth mole larger 1/4 inch (about 6 millimeters)  evolving  look changes time  mole grows size changes color shape  moles may evolve develop new signs symptoms  new itchiness bleeding   cancerous (malignant) moles vary greatly appearance  may show changes listed above  may only unusual characteristics  hidden melanomas melanomas can develop areas body little exposure sun  spaces toes palms  soles  scalp genitals  referred hidden melanomas occur places people wouldn't think check  melanoma occurs people darker skin  it's likely occur hidden area  hidden melanomas include:  melanoma nail  acral-lentiginous melanoma rare form melanoma can occur fingernail toenail  can found palms hands soles feet  it's common people asian descent  black people dark skin pigment  melanoma mouth  digestive tract  urinary tract vagina  mucosal melanoma develops mucous membrane lines nose  mouth  esophagus  anus  urinary tract vagina  mucosal melanomas especially difficult detect can easily mistaken far common conditions  melanoma eye  eye melanoma  called ocular melanoma  occurs uvea — layer white eye (sclera)  eye melanoma may cause vision changes may diagnosed eye exam
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