Ask The Expert: Moles

Dr Hayley Leeman is a consultant dermatologist and dermatological surgeon at The Mole Clinic, Harley Street, London and The Royal Free NHS Trust

How did you become an authority on all things moles?

I did five years of medical school and eight years of training to become a consultant dermatologist. Skin cancer surgery is clear cut—i like that you can diagnose, remove the mole there and then and give a management plan. Anyone can call themselves a dermatologist, so make sure to always check on the GMC website that they have completed specialist training in dermatology. This should set you at ease before an appointment.

When should you seek medical advice on a mole?

If anything is new or changing.

Take the ABCDE approach. Is it A—asymmetrical? Does it have B—an irregular border? Has C—the colour changed or are there several colours? D—diameter—is it getting bigger? E is for evolution—is it changing in size, shape or colour?

Are some moles more likely to turn cancerous than others?

The most common sites for skin cancer are the trunk for men and legs for women.

Who is most at risk from developing skin cancer?

People with red hair and freckly skin are most at risk, but people with a more olive skin can get skin cancer too. It’s a myth people with darker skin can’t develop melanoma—bob Marley died of melanoma of the toenail. People who live in countries where they have significant UV exposure or who use sunbeds—we see that a lot. Having a blistering sunburn increases the risk.

What can you do to protect yourself? In order of importance, avoid direct sunlight between 11am and 3pm, wear protective clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, and wear SPF 50 sunscreen which is also rated 5* for UVA. Remember to apply it to the tops of the ears and, for men, the scalp. Wear an SPF lip balm. Check your skin for moles at least twice a year when you get out of the shower and take photos and measurements for comparison. There are also mole monitoring apps.

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