Sun Awareness Week is upon us, reminding us all to check our skin regularly. But how do you tell the difference between a freckle and a mole? We found out.
Summer is almost here and many of us will be jetting off to far-flung destinations in an effort to get a bit of sun on our skin.
We know now more than ever though the importance of protecting your skin from the harsh midday rays to prevent skin cancer, with those who have moles and freckles taking extra care.
We spoke to the experts to find out how to tell freckles and moles apart and what to look out for.
In layman’s terms, a freckle is a type of pigmented lesion.
Dr Ros Perry, Dermatologist at Cosmedics explains: “They are small flat brown marks arising on the face and other sun exposed areas.
“They are most often seen in fair skinned people, especially those with red hair, but they are an inherited characteristic that sometimes affects darker skin types as well.
Moles are also pigmented lesions, Dr Gach explains, saying: “A mole, also known as naevus, is a pigmented lesion that can be present on any part of the skin.
“Most of our moles appear in childhood and they changes slightly and gradually as the child is growing up.
Dr Perry continues: “Moles occur when cells in the skin grow in a cluster instead of being spread throughout the skin. These cells are called melanocytes, and they make the pigment that gives skin its natural colour.
How do you tell the difference between the freckles and moles?
As a general rule, freckles are lighter in colour and tend to be flat, unlike moles which are usually raised and larger.
You’re also more likely to have lots of freckles in one area of the skin.
Whether you have freckles or moles, if you’re worried about either, the changes you should be keeping an eye out for are the same.
“Rapid change in size, shape, colour of mole requires a prompt check-up with a doctor,” Dr Gach says.
“Your doctor can either reassure you it is nothing to worry about or if they feel it may be suspicious then they would refer you to a skin specialist at the hospital to see if it needs removing so it can be tested to see if the cells in the mole are worrying or not,” says Dr Perry.