{"id":468652,"date":"2026-05-27T00:03:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T00:03:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/468652\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T00:03:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T00:03:14","slug":"skin-cancer-doesnt-always-look-like-a-changing-mole-7-warning-signs-doctors-want-you-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/468652\/","title":{"rendered":"Skin cancer doesn\u2019t always look like a changing mole \u2013 7 warning signs doctors want you to know"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following news<\/a> that the number of new melanoma cases \u2013 the deadliest form of skin cancer \u2013 diagnosed in a year has reached a record high (above 20,000) in the UK, WH spoke to consultant dermatologist and spokesperson for The British Skin Foundation<\/a>, Dr Derrick Phillips<\/a>, about the most common forms of skin cancer and the key signs to look out for. <\/p>\n

What are the different types of skin cancer?<\/p>\n

\u2018The three most common forms of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma \u2013 and they can all look quite different,\u2019 says Dr Phillips. \u2018Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer worldwide. It\u2019s strongly linked to cumulative sun exposure and sunburn<\/a>, and is more common in fair skin types.\u2019<\/p>\n

Key symptoms, he notes, include: <\/p>\n

\u2018A pearly pink bump or patch on sun-exposed areas \u2013 sometimes with visible blood vessels running through it.\u2019\u2018Lesions that crust, bleed or present as a sore that simply doesn\u2019t heal.\u2019\u2018Some basal cell carcinomas can also contain pigment [colour], which occasionally leads them to be mistaken for melanoma.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Although basal cell carcinomas very rarely spread elsewhere in the body, they can continue to grow slowly over time and cause significant local tissue damage if left untreated,\u2019 adds Dr Phillips. \u2018They are traditionally more common from the third and fourth decades onwards, although I’m increasingly seeing them in younger patients \u2013 including people in their twenties.\u2019<\/p>\n

‘I’m increasingly seeing them in younger patients \u2013 including people in their twenties’<\/p>\n

Squamous cell carcinoma \u2013 the second most common form of skin cancer \u2013 tends \u2018to occur in older individuals and on chronically sun-exposed skin, and unlike basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma carries a small but important risk of spreading to other parts of the body.\u2019<\/p>\n

This type of skin cancer can present as: <\/p>\n

\u2018Rapidly enlarging scaly or crusted growths that may become tender, painful or bleed easily.\u2019\u2018Arise within chronic wounds, long-standing scars or burn scars, and may appear as a non-healing, painful or enlarging scaly area.\u2019\u2018They can also develop on the lip \u2013 particularly in smokers \u2013 where they may present as a tender, crusted or persistent lump.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer because of its potential to spread,\u2019 says Dr Phillips. \u2018It can develop within an existing mole or arise as a completely new lesion. Melanomas are often irregular in shape or colour and may change over time \u2013 although some can look surprisingly subtle.\u2019<\/p>\n

He flags the ABCDE checklist as a helpful tool for spotting potentially concerning changes.<\/p>\n

A = Asymmetry. Where one half of the mole doesn’t match the other.<\/p>\n

B = Irregular borders. Notched, irregular or scalloped borders.<\/p>\n

C = Colour. The presence of multiple or uneven colours.<\/p>\n

D = Diameter greater than 6mm.<\/p>\n

E = Evolving. A mole that changes in size, shape and colour or starts to bleed or causes symptoms.<\/p>\n

\u2018If a mole shows two or more of these features, it\u2019s best to have it reviewed by your GP or dermatologist,\u2019 says Dr Phillips, adding that any mole that \u2018looks noticeably different to your other moles\u2019 warrants medical assessment. <\/p>\n

Other signs of skin cancer that aren\u2019t just moles <\/p>\n

As Dr Phillips has already mentioned, skin cancer doesn\u2019t just present as moles. \u2018When people think about skin cancer, they often think about dark or changing moles, but some of the more concerning signs can actually be far less obvious,\u2019 he notes.<\/p>\n

\u2018Melanoma can occasionally develop in unusual locations, including on the soles of the feet or palms and underneath the nail \u2013 known as subungual melanoma \u2013 where it may appear as a broad or irregular dark streak running through the nail. Warning signs include: pigment spreading onto the surrounding skin, nail distortion or splitting.\u2019<\/p>\n

Not all melanomas are dark, either. \u2018Some melanomas \u2013 known as amelanotic melanomas \u2013 have little to no pigment and can instead look pink, red or skin-coloured, which means they are sometimes mistaken for harmless skin lesions and diagnosed later,\u2019 explains Dr Phillips. <\/p>\n

\u2018The vast majority of skin cancers are highly treatable when detected early, which is why monitoring your skin and seeking assessment for any new, changing or non-healing lesions is so important.\u2019<\/p>\n

How to reduce skin cancer risk \"howFiordaliso\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Protecting your skin from excessive UV exposure is crucial<\/p>\n

And there\u2019s a lot we can do to reduce risk, too. \u2018The most effective way to reduce your risk of skin cancer is to protect your skin from excessive UV exposure over time. That means taking a consistent, everyday approach to sun protection rather than only thinking about it on holiday,\u2019 says Dr Phillips. He recommends: <\/p>\n

\u2018Using a broad spectrum SPF50<\/a>+ sunscreen daily and reapplying it every two hours when outdoors, particularly during prolonged sun exposure \u2013 as a guide, you need approximately half a teaspoon for the face and neck.\u2019\u2018Reapplying suncream more frequently after swimming, excessive sweating or towel drying.\u2019\u2018Wearing wide-brimmed hats, UV protective sunglasses<\/a> and protective clothing.\u2019\u2018Seeking shade on days when the UV index is 3 or above.\u2019\u2018Using an antioxidant serum within your skincare routine can also help to reduce oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species generated by UVA exposure. While antioxidants are not a replacement for sunscreen, they can work alongside broad spectrum SPF as part of a more comprehensive photoprotection strategy.\u2019\u2018Avoiding sunburn, as episodes of intense UV exposure and blistering sunburns increase the risk of developing skin cancer, including melanoma.\u2019\u2018Avoiding indoor tanning beds altogether, as they expose the skin to concentrated UV radiation and significantly increase skin cancer risk.\u2019\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Hannah Bradfield is a Senior Health and Fitness Writer for Women\u2019s Health UK. An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Hannah graduated from Loughborough University with a BA in English and Sport Science and an MA in Media and Cultural Analysis. \u00a0She has been covering sports, health and fitness for the last five years and has created content for outlets including BBC Sport, BBC Sounds, Runner\u2019s World and Stylist. She especially enjoys interviewing those working within the community to improve access to sport, exercise and wellness. Hannah is a 2024 John Schofield Trust Fellow and was also named a 2022 Rising Star in Journalism by The Printing Charity. \u00a0A keen runner, Hannah was firmly a sprinter growing up (also dabbling in long jump) but has since transitioned to longer-distance running. While 10K is her favoured race distance, she loves running or volunteering at parkrun every Saturday, followed, of course, by pastries. She\u2019s always looking for fun new runs and races to do and brunch spots to try.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Following news that the number of new melanoma cases \u2013 the deadliest form of skin cancer \u2013 diagnosed…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":468653,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[202528,147244,1134,202527,1107,103,397,396,61,60,184510,1135,202526,147243,202529],"class_list":["post-468652","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-healthcare","tag-collection-cancer-causes","tag-collection-health-app","tag-content-type-default","tag-contentid-4e8e8e2f-43ed-4a7b-9c5c-4aecb23852e9","tag-displaytype-standard-article","tag-health","tag-health-care","tag-healthcare","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-issyndicated-false","tag-locale-gb","tag-shorttitle-7-skin-cancer-signs-that-arent-changing-moles","tag-subsection-conditions","tag-treatments-support"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/468652","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=468652"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/468652\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/468653"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=468652"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=468652"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=468652"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}