10–40
Average number of moles on an adult body
>100
Moles → 5× higher melanoma risk
1 mm
Depth threshold that doubles 5-year mortality
5 yrs
Recommended monitoring interval for atypical nevi
The ABCDE self-check
A simple framework taught in dermatology schools worldwide. Anything that scores positively on two or more axes — or that visibly changes between checks — deserves a professional review.
- A
Asymmetry
One half of the mole does not mirror the other half.
- B
Border
Edges are ragged, notched, scalloped or poorly defined.
- C
Color
Multiple shades of brown, black, red, white or blue within one lesion.
- D
Diameter
Larger than 6 mm (about the size of a pencil eraser).
- E
Evolving
Any change in size, shape, color, elevation or new symptom (itch, bleed).
When to act immediately
- A new mole appearing after age 40.
- A mole that itches, bleeds, crusts or refuses to heal.
- A pigmented lesion under a fingernail or toenail (acral / subungual melanoma).
- An ugly-duckling lesion — visibly different from all your other moles.
- Any visible change documented across two scans in DermaPrime.