Symptom: A New Mole
Likely cause: Harmless skin growth
Worst-case scenario: Skin cancer
While it's common to develop new moles before midlife, finding a new one or seeing changes in an existing mole after age 40 could be a sign of melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer.
Other signs it may be serious: "If a mole -- new or old -- turns darker or black, becomes asymmetrical, or causes pain, itching, or bleeding, you should get it checked out right away," says Robert Brodell, MD, a dermatologist in Warren, Ohio, who is a spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology. The more moles you have, the greater your risk for melanoma. Being fair and spending lots of time in the sun (even if you only did so in your youth) raises your risk, as does every single sunburn. "If you have lots of sun damage, like freckles, you have a higher risk too," Brodell says.
When to act: "Call your dermatologist as soon as you notice something unusual and say, 'I have a changing mole, and I'm worried about it.' She should get you in within a week or two," Brodell says. If you don't have a dermatologist, ask your doctor for a referral. The dermatologist should check your whole body for signs of skin cancer and biopsy anything that looks suspicious. "Fortunately, when melanoma is caught early it's very curable," Brodell says. To protect your skin, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 every day, have full-body screenings annually, and check your body for new or changing moles once a month.
Originally published in MORE magazine, March 2009.
