When it comes to your health and in particular skin cancer, it is a good idea to be proactive and watch for certain types of moles as they can be indicative of skin cancer. This is especially true if you have a history of sunburn, fair skin and hair, large number of moles or a family history of skin cancer.

In addition to limiting your exposure to sunlight and using sunscreens, examining yourself for moles can help with early detection of melanoma (a type of skin cancer) and treatment.

If you notice changes in a mole’s colour or appearance, you should make an appointment to see us so that we can evaluate it. You also should have moles checked if they bleed, ooze, itch, appear scaly, or become tender or painful.

Some people may have a mole in a prominent position on their skin which is unsightly or may cause embarrassment and in most cases these can be removed to improve the individual’s appearance.

We will evaluate any tissue removed and if it is appropriate these tissue samples will be sent for laboratory analysis to ensure that there is no other disease or cancerous cells present.