Keeping an eye out for moles on your skin is the most common way to keep an eye out for potentially deadly melanomas, but many people think they are only at risk if they have a great deal of moles on their body. New research suggests that the opposite may be true.

The findings suggest that individuals with fewer moles on their body “should be paying attention to their moles, should be looking at their skin really carefully and should be asking their doctors for regular skin checks,” said study author Alan C. Geller, a senior lecturer at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Melanoma Findings

Findings from the study shed an interesting light on the number of moles people had on their body when they were diagnosed with a melanoma:

• 4 percent had 20 or fewer moles
• 5 percent had between 20 and 50 moles
• 1 had more than 50 moles
• Among patients younger than 60 years old, those who had 50 or more moles tended to have melanoma tumors that were thinner compared to those with fewer than 50 moles.
• People who had five or more “different from ordinary, non-melanoma” moles had a higher risk for a thicker melanoma.

The last two points are important, as the thickness of the melanoma indicates just how deeply the cancer has penetrated the skin. The study suggests that people with a lot of moles did not necessarily have the most severe cases of melanoma, but many irregular non-melanomic moles could increase risk of a thick melanoma.

ABCD Skin Care

One way to check yourself for potential melanomas is to use the ABCD method. This method works by ensuring the individual checks for four different indicators of a potentially dangerous melanoma, which are:

• Asymmetry – One side of the mole looks much different than the other
• Border – The border around the mole changes or grows
• Color – The color of the mole changes or becomes darker
• Diameter – The mole becomes wider than the diameter of a pencil head eraser

If your mole hits any of the above factors, consider setting up an appointment with a specialist, as you may need to have the mole surgically addressed.