The following are examples of Malignant Melanomas and how to spot them

WHEN SHOULD I SEEK ADVICE?

If a new mole appears in adulthood, past age 20, this is worth having checked. These signs and symptoms may indicate a medical concern:                          

CHANGE in
size
shape
colour or elevation                          
Oozing or bleeding                          
Inflamed                          
Scaly or crusty                          
Painful                          
Itching or burning                                                      

If you're concerned about any mole even if they do not have any of the above features it is safer to have it checked.  

The American Academy of Dermatologists recommend using the easy to remember rule of  ABCD as a way of recognising unusual moles that could be melanoma.  The following 4 are all examples of melanoma illustrating the ABCD rule.

A IS FOR ASYMETRICAL SHAPE

Look for moles with irregular shapes, such as two very different-looking halves.  This one is also very much larger than 6mm in diameter.

B IS FOR IRREGULAR BORDER

Look for moles with irregular, notched or scalloped borders — the characteristics of melanomas.

C IS FOR CHANGES IN COLOUR.

Look for growths that have many colours or an uneven distribution of colour.   This one has lots of colours in it and an area of paleness has started recently.  The colour is not regularly distributed either in this example.

 D IS FOR DIAMETER.

Look for growths that are larger than about 1/4 inch (6 millimeters).  This one is at least  10mm across