pic and quotes from: http://austinpowers.wikia.com/wiki/The_Mole
One of my favorite movies growing up was Austin Powers. This next post (all about moles) reminds me of some famous quotes from Austin Powers.
“…Yes, nice to mole you… MEET you! Nice to meet your mole! Don’t say mole… I said mole.”
“Mole…… Mole…… MOLEY, MOLEY, MOLEY, MOLEY, MOLEY!!!”
“MOLE!! BLOODY MOLE!! We’re not supposed to talk about the bloody mole, but there’s a bloody moleWINKING ME IN THE FACE!!”
“I’m gonna cut it off, chop it up, and make some guacaMOLE!!”
Ok, so now that we have mocked some serious moles… lets check out what you seriously need to know about moles, to protect your health!
You should do monthly checks on your moles. Know where they all are and notice any changes to them. There is a great acronym (I love acronyms) that will remind you what you are looking for, and when to seek medical attention.
Remember ABCDE Skin Checks!! If any of the following sound true about your mole see your dermatologist or doctor. You could prevent melanoma, a very dangerous skin cancer.
A: Asymmetry: Your mole is not symmetrical. (If you folded it in half the sides don’t match.)
B: Border: Your mole does not have a defined border to it. Your mole may appear ragged, blurry, or bumpy.
C: Color: Your mole’s color varies, or has different colors inside it.
D: Diameter: The is a change in diameter of your mole, or the mole is larger than 6mm (about the size of a pencil eraser.)
E: Evolving: Your mole is getting larger, or the color or shape has changed.
Prevention is KEY! See your doctor if your moles ever painful or sore, ooze or bleed, or become thicker or crusty. And always wear sunscreen!! (See blog post: Ray-Ban and Coppertone.)
In health,
Tara Arnold, RN
