Every culture on this site reads moles for meaning — but a mole is first and foremost a feature of your skin, and skin deserves care. The single most useful thing you can learn here is the ABCDE rule, the checklist dermatologists teach for spotting the early warning signs of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. Caught early, melanoma is highly treatable.
A — Asymmetry
Draw an imaginary line through the middle of the mole. A typical harmless mole is roughly symmetrical — the two halves match. If one half looks clearly different from the other, note it.
B — Border
Ordinary moles have smooth, even, well-defined edges. Warning signs include borders that are ragged, notched, blurred or irregular.
C — Color
A benign mole is usually a single shade of brown. Be alert to moles with several colours — different browns, black, and patches of red, white or blue.
D — Diameter
Melanomas are often larger than 6 mm (about the size of a pencil eraser) when diagnosed, though they can be smaller. Any mole noticeably bigger than your others is worth watching.
E — Evolving
This is the most important letter. Any mole that is changing — in size, shape, colour, or elevation, or that begins to itch, bleed or crust — should be checked promptly. New moles appearing after age 30 also deserve attention.
The "ugly duckling" sign
Beyond ABCDE, watch for the ugly duckling: a mole that simply looks different from all your others. Our moles tend to resemble one another; the odd one out is worth a professional look.
When in doubt, get it checked
None of these signs is a diagnosis — plenty of perfectly harmless moles tick a box. But the cost of a dermatology visit is small, and early detection saves lives. Enjoy the symbolism on this site for what it is: culture and entertainment. For your skin's health, trust a doctor.
Thinking about removal? Read how to safely remove a mole next.