Moles to get checked

See your doctor straight away if you have a new mole. And make an appointment if you have a mole that is getting bigger or changing shape, particularly if it is getting an irregular edge, getting darker and becoming patchy or multi-shaded. Also, if it has a loss of symmetry – the two halves of your mole do not look the same.

Itching, painful, bleeding or crusty and inflamed moles should also be looked at.

Moles with three or more different shades of brown or black are particularly likely to be melanoma.