With skin cancer on the rise, many people are interested in discovering the difference between a mole and skin cancer. This is not always something that can be determined by an untrained person examining his or her moles. Often the best method for determining the difference between a mole and a skin cancer is through examination of the mole by a doctor, and through laboratory tests on some of the cells from the mole to determine abnormal cells.

There are a few things which can help the layperson decide the difference between a mole and skin cancer. Most moles are symmetrical, and are either round or oval in shape. Their edges are round, and you could essentially fold the mole in half and join the edges together.

If the mole is not round or oval shaped, and the mole is not symmetrical, this may delineate the difference between a mole and skin cancer. Moles that have blurred edges, or an unsymmetrical form are more likely to be cancerous, though this is not always the case. At the very least, these moles should be examined by a doctor and possibly scrapings of the mole should be evaluated for cancerous cells.

Another aspect to consider when determining the difference between a mole and skin cancer is growth potential of the mole. As an adult, one can expect most moles to stay the same size. If a mole begins to exhibit rapid growth, it is more likely to be cancerous.

It is more difficult to determine the difference between a mole and skin cancer in children, as moles may not have fully grown. One can take a few things into consideration besides size and shape. Children with many moles, over 100, called dysplastic nevi, are more prone to skin cancer. Family history of dysplastic nevi or of actual skin cancer also increases risk. Repeated damage from the sun in the form of skin cancer can also help one determine the difference between a mole and skin cancer.

In most cases, skin cancer is portrayed by the media as a terrible disease, which can rapidly metastasize and cause death without treatment. These media sources are almost always referring to the presence of malignant melanoma, the least common of skin cancers. While they are accurate in describing the symptoms of malignant melanoma, they inaccurately refer to it by the term skin cancer.

There are three types of skin cancer. The two most common types, in addition to the less common melanoma, are basal cell skin cancer and squamous cell skin cancer. Basal and squamous cell cancer tend not to be dangerous to the other systems of the body. While these types of cancer may have mole-like characteristics, there are usually some differences.

Basal cell skin cancer often appears as a pearl-colored bump or red patch, or a patch of thickened or scar-like skin. Squamous cell cancer begins as a small bump that grows slowly, the center of which usually develops an ulcer or sore that does not heal. While they should be removed, they do not warrant unnecessary panic. One may need to take a day or two off of work to recover from these removals, as the cells often are deep into the skin layers.

The most important rule in assessing the difference between a mole and skin cancer is to check with a doctor whenever you have doubts about a mole. If you have large moles, you may want to take pictures of these, or measurements, to be certain they have not changed. Seek medical attention right away if you note significant changes in a mole. Avoid sun exposure and use a high SPF sunscreen when outside, as skin damage resulting from repeated sun exposure is the biggest causal factor in any of the skin cancers.