When performing a skin exam, look for the following signs:
Asymmetry: One half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other. Border: Edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred. Color: The color is not the same all over and may include shades of brown or black, sometimes with patches of pink, red, white, or blue. Diameter: The spot is larger than 6 millimeters across (about the size of a pencil eraser), although melanomas can sometimes be smaller. Evolving: The mole is changing in size, shape, or color.
