More than 100 moles

[dietersprkt]

I've read the more than 100 moles increases a person's chance of getting skin cancer.   The older I get (now 40) the more moles I seem to have, particularly on my upper back, arms and chest.  Just wondering how concerned I should be about this.  Also, how often is it advised to see a derm for skin checks?

[frostingqueen]

As far as I know this is true. I have been told that the moles to be more concerned about are those that appear later not the ones you have had since you were a child.

Also I believe you should have skin checks every year but with a lot of moles I think you should check your skin every month at least and monitor changes. I do this frequently. You know your body better than anyone else so it makes sense to monitor your moles and keep track of them as any problems are best caught early.

I dont think you need to be concerned about having the moles but if you havent seen a dermatologist maybe see one soon and have them do a full check. They may monitor your moles using a mole map or photos of unusual ones so they can track changes.

Goodluck.

[Rowena Santos, MD]

Hi,

Aside from monitoring the moles with map and photographs, it would also be good to know the ABCDE rule.  A for asymmetry, B for border, C for color , D for diameter and E for elevation. Normal moles or freckles are completely symmetrical and the border should be smooth and not blurry. A mole that is more than one hue is suspicious and needs to be evaluated by a doctor. If it is larger than a pencil eraser (about 1/4 inch), and is raised above the surface and has an uneven surface, this should also be evaluated by your doctor.

Take care and regards.