When to worry about a changing mole with an atypical mole

An atypical mole may be larger, less evenly shaped, or less uniform in colour than an ordinary mole. Some remain stable, while others change over time. Pay attention to a difference between one mole and the others, changes in outline, colour, size, surface, or sensation. Itching or tenderness can have harmless causes, but a persistent symptom alongside visible change should be examined.

Arrange a routine skin check and follow the clinician’s monitoring schedule. Keep consistent photographs for comparison if your clinician recommends this, using the same lighting and angle. Avoid picking a crust or trying to remove the mole yourself. Tell the clinician about personal or family skin-cancer history, previous biopsies, and when you first noticed the change.

Request prompt assessment for a mole that is changing in a sustained or uneven way, develops several colours, bleeds without clear injury, crusts repeatedly, becomes persistently painful, or looks distinctly different from your other moles. Seek earlier care if change is rapid or the lesion is difficult to monitor. A clinician may examine it with magnification and decide whether sampling is needed.

Ask what feature has changed, whether the mole should be photographed or removed, how often to return for checks, and which symptoms should bring the appointment forward.