Suspicious moles can be found in odd places

It is often thought that skin cancer and suspicious moles can appear only on the most obvious places, such as the back or shoulders. The reality is that suspicious moles can grow anywhere on the skin. That is why regularly monitoring your skin is co important, particularly if you are at medium to high risk - try our Risk Quiz here.

At the same time, there are many places on the body that are difficult to self-examine and, as a result, a dangerous mole can go undetected for quite some time. See where to look so that you can have better protection:

Cancerous moles can appear from head to toe

• The rule of thumb is that suspicious moles often appear on the torso and in areas which are most frequently exposed to the sun and it is true that many of them grow on the back and shoulders. However, this does not mean that they cannot appear elsewhere.
• One of the most overlooked areas is the head. Ultraviolet radiation can get even through the thickest hair and cause sunburn and cancerous moles. Examining your head is certainly difficult, but you can use the help of a friend or family member.
• Suspicious moles can appear on the tummy and on the chest, even though the latter part of the body is rarely affected. They commonly appear on the legs as well. You can easily examine the front part of the legs, but how about the inner thighs and the area behind the knees and around the ankles? The use of a mirror is invaluable in the case of self-exams.

Suspicious moles can be found in unusual places

• Suspicious moles can appear on the soles of the feet where they are quite hard to spot. Do not be fooled by the thicker skin there. Sit on a chair and examine your feet and soles in particular, very carefully. Do not miss to check between your toes too!
• You can even find suspicious moles under finger and toe nails. These are often seen in people who have darker complexion and are generally at lower risk of skin cancer and melanoma. Do not assume that because the risk for you is lower you are 100 percent safe. You should talk to a specialist about any strange formations under the nails.
• Suspicious moles can grow in the pubic area and on the genitalia as well and these can often go undetected. In some cases, people are embarrassed to share their problem. If you notice something strange, you must consult a specialist immediately.

If you notice any of suspicious moles, don’t put off a skin check until it’s too late. Look after yourself and get your skin screened regularly - you can book a Full Body MoleMap here.