5 signs your mole is not normal

As this summer draws to a close, we hope you've taken our sunscreen advice to heart, but we know it's almost impossible not to get a little darker during all of this summer's outdoor fun. However, the fact remains that any tan, no matter how subtle it may be, is a skin injury. If you have moles, being outdoors for a long time can make you take a closer look at them. If you're not sure if your mole looks normal, it's time to make an appointment with a dermatologist. While you wait to meet, read this. We spoke with board-certified dermatologist and Skincare.com consultant Dr. Dhawal Bhanusali to learn about five signs your mole is not normal.

All signs of an abnormal mole go back to ABCDE melanomaBhanusali explains. Here's a quick update: 

• A stands for asymmetry (Is your mole the same on both sides or different?)
• B stands for Border (Is the border of your mole uneven?)
• C stands for color (Is your mole brown or red, white or mottled?)
• D stands for Diameter (Is your mole bigger than a pencil eraser?)
• E stands for developing (Did your mole suddenly start to itch? Has it risen? Has it changed shape or size?)

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, it's time to visit a dermatologist to get it checked out because these are signs that your mole is not normal.

To keep an eye on your moles at home between dermatologist appointments, Bhanusali recommends this "little dermatology hack," as he calls it. “We live in an age of social media where people take pictures of dogs, cats, food, trees, etc. If you see a mole that bothers you, take a picture. Set a timer on your phone to take another photo in 30 days,” he says. “If you notice ANY changes, go see a dermatologist! Even if it looks normal, contextual understanding of the mole can help the dermatologist.” If you've never had a skin test and don't know what to expect, we answer all your burning questions about full body skin checks, here.

While May is Melanoma Awareness Month, skin cancers such as melanoma can occur all year round. That's why we at Skincare.com constantly praise broad-spectrum sunscreens. Sunscreen not only protects you from the harmful effects of UVA and UVB rays, but is the only proven way to prevent the signs of premature skin aging. If you haven't already, start applying a broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher every day, even when you're just in the office. Here are some of our favorite sunscreens to work with.!