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ABCDE Mole Self-Check

Medically reviewed by Joshua Brady, MD, FAAD • August 2026

Pick one spot or mole you are wondering about, look at it in good light (a phone photo helps), and answer the five questions below. This is the same ABCDE framework dermatologists use as a first screen for melanoma. It takes about a minute.

One thing first: this tool cannot diagnose anything, and it cannot tell you a spot is fine. Our advice does not change based on your answers: if a spot concerns you enough to check it, have it looked at. What the ABCDEs do well is help you describe what you are seeing and understand what a dermatologist looks for, and some melanomas, including nodular and amelanotic types, show none of these features.

Skip the checklist and call us at (813) 771-5500 if a spot is bleeding without injury, growing quickly, painful, or looks very different from every other mole you have (the "ugly duckling"). Those earn a prompt appointment, whatever the ABCDEs say.

A for Asymmetry
Asymmetry

If you drew a line through the middle of the spot, would the two halves look different from each other?

Benign moles are usually symmetric. Melanomas often grow unevenly, so one half looks different in shape or thickness than the other.

B for Border
Border

Are the edges ragged, notched, blurred, or hard to tell where the spot ends?

Benign moles usually have smooth, well-defined borders. Irregular, scalloped, or fading borders are a warning feature.

C for Color
Color

Does the spot contain more than one color, such as different shades of brown, black, red, white, or blue?

Benign moles are usually one uniform color. Multiple colors or an uneven distribution of color within one spot is a warning feature.

D for Diameter
Diameter

Is the spot larger than 6 millimeters across, about the size of a pencil eraser?

Melanomas are often larger than 6 mm when diagnosed, though they can be smaller. Size alone matters most in combination with the other features.

E for Evolving
Evolving

Has the spot changed in size, shape, color, or elevation, or started itching, crusting, or bleeding?

Change is the single most important warning sign. A spot that looks different than it did weeks or months ago, or behaves differently, deserves professional evaluation.

How to Check Your Skin Well

Once a month, in good light, look over your whole body, including the places sun never reaches: scalp, between toes, soles, under nails, and your back (use a hand mirror or ask someone). Take phone photos of any moles you are tracking; the E in ABCDE is far easier to judge against a photo than against memory. Floridians carry more cumulative sun exposure than almost anyone in the country, which is why we also recommend an annual full-body skin exam even when nothing looks suspicious.

Want the full visual guide with examples of each feature? Read our companion post, The ABCDEs of Mole Checking: A Visual Guide.

Have a Spot Checked by a Board-Certified Dermatologist

Your journey to confident, beautiful skin starts here. Whether you need medical care, surgical expertise, or cosmetic enhancements, Tampa Bay Dermatology is ready to provide personalized, expert dermatological solutions tailored just for you.

Book AppointmentCall (813) 771-5500