Mole check

The American Academy of Dermatology: Does not have specific guidelines for skin cancer screening.

However here are my personal clinical recommendations to patients:

Certain things put some people at a much higher risk for melanoma, a dangerous type of skin cancer. If you have one of these high risk factors below I suggest having an annual skin check.

• Lots of moles: Having more than 50 moles in total or having large, unusual-looking moles
• Past skin cancer: If you’ve had any kind of skin cancer before, your chances of getting melanoma are higher.
• Weak immune system: People with weaker immune systems, especially those taking medications that suppress their immune system long-term (like organ transplant recipients), are more at risk.
• Sun sensitivity, Red or Blonde hair: If you sunburn easily, have red or blonde hair, light skin, lots of freckles, and light-colored eyes (blue, green, or hazel), you’re more likely to develop melanoma.
• Family history: Melanoma can run in families. If you have a parent, sibling, or child who has had melanoma, or multiple relatives on the same side of your family with melanoma, you have an increased risk.