Moles: what to look out for

 Dr Dilshaad Asmal, a dermatologist with rooms at Mediclinic Cape Town, uses mole-mapping technology – which involves 90% magnification – to look at any suspicious marks on the skin.
'Mole mapping is a simple procedure and an invaluable aid,' Dr Asmal explains. 'It's also an effective image-storage system so any change in lesions can be followed up.'

I have a mole that is troubling me. How can I tell whether it might be malignant?

A simple way of checking your moles is by following the Cancer Association of South Africa's (CANSA) ABC guidelines. Look for any of the following:
- Asymmetry or an irregular shape to a mole or mark
- Border irregularities with lacy or poorly defined edges
- Colour variations
- Diameter of larger than six millimetres

I'm very fair-skinned. Does that put me at greater risk?

Anyone of any colouring can get skin cancer, but you might be at greater risk if you have…
- Fair hair and light eyes
- A family member with a melanoma
- Spent a lot of time outdoors
- Been a fan of sun tanning
- Been blisteringly sunburnt three or more times as a child
- Freckles, moles and marks on your skin

Should I be checking myself and having annual check-ups?

With cancer, early detection is always best so watch your own moles. An annual check-up with an expert is also recommended. And prevention is better than cure, so use sunscreens and hats, and cover up in the sun.

What are the different types of skin cancer and how are they treated?

There are three types of skin cancer that all begin in the outer layer of your skin, the epidermis:
- Basal-cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer in fair-skinned people. It will show up as a red patch, a crusty, ulcerating sore that doesn't heal and can bleed sometimes, or a scar-like area. You would normally find it on your face, ears, scalp, neck, or other exposed areas, but it can appear anywhere. It is a slow-growing cancer and usually doesn't spread. It is normally surgically removed or frozen.
- Squamous-cell carcinoma is twice as common in men as in women, and generally appears as a scaly red patch or pink opaque bump that can form ulcers in the centre. It appears most often on the face, neck, arms, scalp or ears, and is also slow-growing – but because it can spread further in the body it's important to zap it early with surgery or radiation.
- Malignant melanoma is the least common but most serious type of skin cancer. It can present as freckles or brown, black or multicoloured patches with an irregular outline. These may crust and bleed, and could crop up in moles or skin spots. Melanoma spreads quickly and is largely responsible for skin-cancer-related deaths, so it's vital to catch and treat it early.

This article was sponsored by Mediclinic. 

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