• Question: if you get new moles on your body dose that mean that you have got skin cancer?

    Asked by benn to Gioia, Iain, Jo, Leo, Mariam on 14 Jun 2010 in Categories: . This question was also asked by bechope.
    • Photo: Mariam Orme

      Mariam Orme answered on 12 Jun 2010:

      No, getting a new mole doesn’t necessarily mean you have skin cancer. Most moles are benign, which means they aren’t harmful. If it’s small and round, then it’s fine. What’s more worrying is if you have a mole that is changing somehow – growing or spreading – or that is an irregular shape.

      But the bottom line is that if you’re at all worried about a mole, it’s definitely worth going to your GP to get it checked out, they won’t think you’re wasting their time or anything like that!

    • Photo: Joanna Watson

      Joanna Watson answered on 13 Jun 2010:

      No, I agree with Mariam, not all new moles are skin cancer, but like she said, if you’re worried about any moles you (or whoever you are worried about) should go to see your doctor to get it checked out.

      You should definitely go to see a doctor if you have a mole that starts to itch and hurt or to scab over or bleed. You should also see a doctor if one of your moles (new or old) develops jagged irregular edges. Basically, you should check with a doctor if any of your skin (not just moles) starts to do strange things – like get itchy, scaly or sore or start to ooze or bleed – for no reason.

    • Photo: Iain Moal

      Iain Moal answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      Hi Benn,
      No, it doesn’t mean that you have got skin cancer. Most the time new moles are completely healthy. However, if you do got a new mole, or if a pre-existing mole changes shape or colour, then its best to see a doctor just to be sure.

    • Photo: Gioia Cherubini

      Gioia Cherubini answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      Not necessarily, because it is quite normal for people to develop new moles from time to time until they reach their 40s. There is no need to worry unless the colour of the new mole is uneven, or its edges are ragged or if the shape of a mole that you already have changes shape. However, since the exposure to sun (and the UV rays coming from it) is one of the highest risk factor for a funny mole to appear, remember to always splash yourself with a good sun cream even if you think that you are already tanned and you don’t need it anymore.

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