Although it accounts for less than 5% of all skin cancer cases, melanoma is responsible for the vast majority of skin cancer deaths. This form of cancer starts in the melanocytes, cells deep in the epidermis, or in moles on the surface of the skin that produce pigment.

Early detection and treatment are critical to prevent this cancer from spreading throughout the body.

Melanoma has several distinguishing characteristics that experts call the ABCDEs. A mole or growth is considered suspicious if:

It's Asymmetrical, meaning that each half of the growth looks different from the other;<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

Its Borders are irregular, ragged, or blurry;<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

Its Color is unusual;<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

Its Diameter exceeds 6 millimeters, about that of a pencil eraser;<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

It's evolved, enlarged, or changed in any way.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

If you have a mole (or moles) with any of these characteristics, see your doctor for a thorough skin exam.

Rates of melanoma have been rising for at least three decades. Your risk of developing melanoma is higher if you have:

red or blond hair<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

green or blue eyes<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

fair skin<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

a history of being in the sun a lot, especially as a child<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

a mother, father, sister, or brother with melanoma.

Features of freckles or moles that raise your risk of melanoma include:

a new mole appearing after age 30<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

a new mole at any age if it is in an area rarely exposed to the sun<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

change in an existing mole<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

one or more atypical moles—moles that look like a fried egg, or moles that are darker than others, or have an irregular border or shape<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

having 20 or more moles, each larger than 2 millimeters across<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

having five or more moles, each larger than 5 millimeters across (about the width of a pencil eraser)<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

freckles caused by being in the sun.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

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