{"id":43317,"date":"2026-11-10T06:13:43","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T05:13:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swissdermaclinic.ch\/suspicious-mole-abcde-rule\/"},"modified":"2026-11-10T06:13:43","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T05:13:43","slug":"suspicious-mole-abcde-rule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swissdermaclinic.ch\/en\/suspicious-mole-abcde-rule\/","title":{"rendered":"How do you recognise a suspicious mole? The ABCDE rule explained"},"content":{"rendered":"

In short:<\/strong> A mole should be che\u00adcked by a doc\u00adtor if it chan\u00adges, looks cle\u00adar\u00adly dif\u00adfe\u00adrent from your other moles or cau\u00adses sym\u00adptoms such as itching or blee\u00adding. The ABCDE rule helps you pay atten\u00adti\u00adon to shape, bor\u00adder, colour, size and chan\u00adge over time. It is a gui\u00adde and can neither con\u00adfirm nor rule out skin can\u00adcer. A sin\u00adgle noti\u00adceable chan\u00adge is reason enough to have a mole exami\u00adned, even if it is small and does not hurt.<\/p>\n

What makes a mole look suspicious?<\/h2>\n

A mole, known medi\u00adcal\u00adly as a nae\u00advus<\/a>, is usual\u00adly benign. The aim is the\u00adr\u00ade\u00adfo\u00adre not to label as many spots as pos\u00adsi\u00adble as sus\u00adpi\u00adcious. It is more useful to get to know your own skin: which moles have been the\u00adre for a long time, what do they look like, and does one of them stand out from the usu\u00adal pattern?<\/p>\n

In der\u00adma\u00adto\u00adlo\u00adgy, a mole that stands out like this is some\u00adti\u00admes cal\u00adled the \u00abugly duck\u00adling\u00bb. If, for exam\u00adp\u00adle, you have many simi\u00adlar light brown moles and noti\u00adce one spot among them with a cle\u00adar\u00adly dif\u00adfe\u00adrent colour, you should show it to a doc\u00adtor. The same appli\u00ades to a mole who\u00adse shape is noti\u00adce\u00adab\u00adly dif\u00adfe\u00adrent from the others. A dif\u00adfe\u00adrence is not a can\u00adcer dia\u00adgno\u00adsis, but it deser\u00adves attention.<\/p>\n

Look at are\u00adas of skin wit\u00adhout any exis\u00adting mole as well. A mela\u00adn\u00ado\u00adma<\/a> can deve\u00adlop on skin that pre\u00advious\u00adly loo\u00adked nor\u00admal. If you only check the moles you alre\u00ada\u00addy know, you may miss a new change.<\/p>\n

The ABCDE rule as a checklist<\/h2>\n

Take your time going through the fol\u00adlo\u00adwing fea\u00adtures. You do not need to count points, and a mole does not have to \u00abmeet\u00bb every let\u00adter. Descri\u00adbe as spe\u00adci\u00adfi\u00adcal\u00adly as you can what you have noti\u00adced. The medi\u00adcal assess\u00adment takes into account the over\u00adall appearance of a skin lesi\u00adon and how it has developed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Fea\u00adture<\/th>\nWhat to look at<\/th>\nWhat can be a war\u00adning sign<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
A: Asym\u00adme\u00adtry<\/strong><\/td>\nCompa\u00adre the two hal\u00adves of the spot.<\/td>\nThe hal\u00adves cle\u00adar\u00adly dif\u00adfer in shape.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
B: Bor\u00adder<\/strong><\/td>\nLook at whe\u00adre the spot meets the sur\u00adroun\u00adding skin.<\/td>\nThe edge looks rag\u00adged, irre\u00adgu\u00adlar or blurred.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
C: Colour<\/strong><\/td>\nNoti\u00adce how the shades are distributed.<\/td>\nLight and dark are\u00adas alter\u00adna\u00adte uneven\u00adly, for exam\u00adp\u00adle brown and black, or with addi\u00adtio\u00adnal red\u00addish areas.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
D: Dia\u00adme\u00adter<\/strong><\/td>\nNote the size and compa\u00adre it with how it used to be.<\/td>\nA mole is get\u00adting big\u00adger. Size alo\u00adne does not allow a relia\u00adble jud\u00adge\u00adment, howe\u00adver: small mela\u00adno\u00admas occur too.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
E: Evo\u00adlu\u00adti\u00adon<\/strong><\/td>\nAsk yours\u00adelf what has changed.<\/td>\nThe shape, colour, size or sur\u00adface looks dif\u00adfe\u00adrent from before.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

You may have come across a dif\u00adfe\u00adrent set of let\u00adters. The Swiss Can\u00adcer League uses the ABCD rule, in which D stands for dyna\u00admics<\/strong>. This refers to chan\u00adges in size, colour, shape or thic\u00adk\u00adness. In the ABCDE ver\u00adsi\u00adon explai\u00adned here, E for evo\u00adlu\u00adti\u00adon covers the same idea. The mes\u00adsa\u00adge is the same: chan\u00adges should be asses\u00adsed by a doctor.<\/p>\n

Changes the rule can miss<\/h2>\n

An even bor\u00adder or a uni\u00adform colour does not rule out mela\u00adn\u00ado\u00adma. Some mela\u00adno\u00admas grow as a nodu\u00adle and do not fit the usu\u00adal ABCDE descrip\u00adti\u00adon well. So also watch for a new rai\u00adsed lesi\u00adon that feels firm and grows quick\u00adly. Have it exami\u00adned prompt\u00adly, even if it looks round or symmetrical.<\/p>\n

In Ger\u00adman, mela\u00adn\u00ado\u00adma is com\u00admon\u00adly cal\u00adled \u00abblack skin can\u00adcer\u00bb<\/a>, which can be mis\u00adlea\u00adding: a mela\u00adn\u00ado\u00adma does not have to be dark. It can, for exam\u00adp\u00adle, appear red\u00addish or skin-colou\u00adred. A new, gro\u00adwing skin lesi\u00adon should the\u00adr\u00ade\u00adfo\u00adre not be con\u00adside\u00adred harm\u00adless sim\u00adply becau\u00adse it is pale.<\/p>\n

\n

Rai\u00adsed does not auto\u00adma\u00adti\u00adcal\u00adly mean dangerous<\/strong><\/p>\n

E is some\u00adti\u00admes explai\u00adned as ele\u00adva\u00adti\u00adon. Benign moles can also be rai\u00adsed abo\u00adve the level of the skin. What mat\u00adters more than ele\u00adva\u00adti\u00adon alo\u00adne is whe\u00adther a lesi\u00adon is new, chan\u00adging or gro\u00adwing. Con\u00adver\u00adse\u00adly, a flat mole is not auto\u00adma\u00adti\u00adcal\u00adly harmless.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The check\u00adlist helps you noti\u00adce any\u00adthing unu\u00adsu\u00adal. A self-check that seems reassu\u00adring should never be a reason to igno\u00adre a chan\u00adge or a fee\u00adling that some\u00adthing is not right.<\/p>\n

How to check your skin systematically<\/h2>\n

Use a full-length mir\u00adror and, whe\u00adre nee\u00added, a hand mir\u00adror. Someone you trust can look at are\u00adas that are hard for you to see. Always fol\u00adlow the same order so that you do not only look at the easi\u00adly visi\u00adble moles on your arms and stomach.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Front and sides:<\/strong> Look at your body from the front and from each side. Rai\u00adse your arms so that your arm\u00adpits are visi\u00adble too.<\/li>\n
  2. Arms and hands:<\/strong> Check your upper arms, fore\u00adarms, palms and fingernails.<\/li>\n
  3. Legs and feet:<\/strong> Remem\u00adber the backs of your legs, the soles of your feet, the spaces bet\u00adween your toes and your toenails.<\/li>\n
  4. Head and back:<\/strong> Use the hand mir\u00adror to look at the back of your neck, your scalp, your back and your buttocks. Part your hair to see the scalp more clearly.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Skin chan\u00adges can also occur in places that get litt\u00adle sun. A new dark area under a nail wit\u00adhout any obvious inju\u00adry should be asses\u00adsed by a doc\u00adtor as well. So do not limit your atten\u00adti\u00adon to the parts of the body that tan in summer.<\/p>\n

    If you noti\u00adce an unu\u00adsu\u00adal spot, wri\u00adte down whe\u00adre it is and what has chan\u00adged. If you alre\u00ada\u00addy have older pho\u00adtos, you can bring them to your appoint\u00adment. But if a lesi\u00adon looks sus\u00adpi\u00adcious, do not start a long peri\u00adod of obser\u00adva\u00adti\u00adon just to coll\u00adect a series of pic\u00adtures first.<\/p>\n

    When should you see a doctor?<\/h2>\n

    Arran\u00adge a prompt assess\u00adment if you dis\u00adco\u00adver a new, unu\u00adsu\u00adal mole or if an exis\u00adting one chan\u00adges. This appli\u00ades in par\u00adti\u00adcu\u00adlar to rapid growth, repea\u00adted blee\u00adding wit\u00adhout an obvious inju\u00adry, oozing or a spot that does not heal. Itching, pain or new crus\u00adting are also reasons to have a skin lesi\u00adon examined.<\/p>\n

    Do not wait until your next sche\u00addu\u00adled skin check. When you book the appoint\u00adment, say which chan\u00adge you have noti\u00adced and how long it has been the\u00adre. This allows the prac\u00adti\u00adce to judge how urgent it is. You are wel\u00adco\u00adme to cont\u00adact us for a mole check in Zurich<\/a>. Your fami\u00adly doc\u00adtor can also be a first point of contact.<\/p>\n

    Whe\u00adther regu\u00adlar checks make sen\u00adse in addi\u00adti\u00adon depends on your per\u00adso\u00adnal risk. Rele\u00advant fac\u00adtors include many or unu\u00adsu\u00adal moles, a pre\u00advious skin can\u00adcer, mela\u00adn\u00ado\u00adma in clo\u00adse rela\u00adti\u00adves or a wea\u00adk\u00aden\u00aded immu\u00adne sys\u00adtem. Dis\u00adcuss a sui\u00adta\u00adble fol\u00adlow-up plan with your doc\u00adtor. What deter\u00admi\u00adnes the inter\u00advals is explai\u00adned in our artic\u00adle How often should moles be che\u00adcked?<\/a> A new\u00adly noti\u00adced chan\u00adge is asses\u00adsed inde\u00adpendent\u00adly of this plan.<\/p>\n

    How we assess a suspicious mole<\/h2>\n

    At the Swiss Der\u00adma Cli\u00adnic in Zurich, we exami\u00adne moles with a der\u00adma\u00adto\u00adscope. We also offer com\u00adpu\u00adter-assis\u00adted digi\u00adtal video der\u00adma\u00adto\u00adsco\u00adpy. Skin lesi\u00adons are pho\u00adto\u00adgra\u00adphed and the images are stored for later com\u00adpa\u00adri\u00adson. At fol\u00adlow-up visits, the image com\u00adpa\u00adri\u00adson is com\u00adbi\u00adned with the phy\u00adsi\u00adcal examination.<\/p>\n

    Show us the spot that worries you and descri\u00adbe what you have obser\u00adved. It helps, for exam\u00adp\u00adle, to men\u00adti\u00adon that a pre\u00advious\u00adly flat spot can now be felt, or that it has bled wit\u00adhout an obvious inju\u00adry. You do not need to be able to deci\u00adde before\u00adhand whe\u00adther it is skin cancer.<\/p>\n

    If a skin lesi\u00adon remains sus\u00adpi\u00adcious, it may need to be remo\u00adved and the tis\u00adsue exami\u00adned in a labo\u00adra\u00adto\u00adry. Only this tis\u00adsue exami\u00adna\u00adti\u00adon cla\u00adri\u00adfies, whe\u00adre the\u00adre is such a sus\u00adpi\u00adci\u00adon, whe\u00adther a mela\u00adn\u00ado\u00adma is pre\u00adsent. Our ser\u00advices also include out\u00adpa\u00adti\u00adent sur\u00adgery to remo\u00adve sus\u00adpi\u00adcious skin lesi\u00adons<\/a>. Which assess\u00adment is appro\u00adpria\u00adte in your case depends on the medi\u00adcal findings.<\/p>\n

    You can find more infor\u00adma\u00adti\u00adon about the exami\u00adna\u00adti\u00adon and digi\u00adtal docu\u00admen\u00adta\u00adti\u00adon on our page on skin can\u00adcer scree\u00adning and mole checks<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n

    Do all ABCDE features have to apply?<\/h3>\n

    No. A sin\u00adgle war\u00adning sign or one clear chan\u00adge can be enough to jus\u00adti\u00adfy an exami\u00adna\u00adti\u00adon. The rule is not a scoring sys\u00adtem. Do not wait for itching or blee\u00adding to appear in addi\u00adti\u00adon to a chan\u00adge in shape.<\/p>\n

    Can a very small mole be dangerous?<\/h3>\n

    Yes. A small dia\u00adme\u00adter does not rule out mela\u00adn\u00ado\u00adma. What also mat\u00adters is whe\u00adther the spot is chan\u00adging or looks dif\u00adfe\u00adrent from your other moles. Mea\u00adsu\u00adring the size yours\u00adelf the\u00adr\u00ade\u00adfo\u00adre does not replace a medi\u00adcal assessment.<\/p>\n

    Is a mole that does not hurt harmless?<\/h3>\n

    No. A mela\u00adn\u00ado\u00adma can be pre\u00adsent wit\u00adhout pain or any other noti\u00adceable sym\u00adptoms. So pay atten\u00adti\u00adon to visi\u00adble chan\u00adges as well. If a mole looks dif\u00adfe\u00adrent from befo\u00adre, that alo\u00adne is a reason to seek medi\u00adcal advice.<\/p>\n

    Does an itchy mole mean skin cancer?<\/h3>\n

    Not auto\u00adma\u00adti\u00adcal\u00adly. Itching alo\u00adne does not allow a dia\u00adgno\u00adsis. An itchy mole should still be asses\u00adsed, espe\u00adci\u00adal\u00adly if its appearance is chan\u00adging at the same time or if it bleeds or crusts over. At your appoint\u00adment, descri\u00adbe both the sym\u00adptoms and the visi\u00adble changes.<\/p>\n

    Does every suspicious mole have to be removed?<\/h3>\n

    No. Sus\u00adpi\u00adcious first of all means that the skin lesi\u00adon should be exami\u00adned more clo\u00adse\u00adly. Benign lesi\u00adons can also show indi\u00advi\u00addu\u00adal war\u00adning signs. After the exami\u00adna\u00adti\u00adon, the doc\u00adtor deci\u00addes whe\u00adther moni\u00adto\u00adring is suf\u00adfi\u00adci\u00adent or whe\u00adther tis\u00adsue needs to be exami\u00adned for a defi\u00adni\u00adte answer.<\/p>\n

    This artic\u00adle does not replace a medi\u00adcal examination.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    The ABCDE rule helps you spot sus\u00adpi\u00adcious moles: learn which chan\u00adges mat\u00adter, whe\u00adre the limits of self-checks lie and when you should seek medi\u00adcal advice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":43315,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swissdermaclinic.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43317","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swissdermaclinic.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swissdermaclinic.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swissdermaclinic.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swissdermaclinic.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43317"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/swissdermaclinic.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43317\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43319,"href":"https:\/\/swissdermaclinic.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43317\/revisions\/43319"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swissdermaclinic.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43315"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swissdermaclinic.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swissdermaclinic.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swissdermaclinic.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}