Most men spend more time looking at their face in the mirror than at the rest of their skin, and the parts they cannot easily see are often the parts that go unchecked. This guide explains what changes in a mole are worth noticing, where to look, when to speak to a GP, and how everyday clothing and sun habits fit into the picture.
Why a skin check belongs in a grooming routine
Grooming is, at heart, paying attention to the body you live in. Shaving, haircuts and moisturising already put most men in front of a mirror daily. A skin check takes a few more minutes, once in a while, and asks a different question: not “how does this look?” but “has this changed?”
That second question matters because of how the NHS describes the warning signs of melanoma, a form of skin cancer. It says that “a new mole or a change in an existing mole may be signs of melanoma”. The emphasis is on change. A mole that has sat unaltered for years is a different matter from one that has begun to alter in size, shape or colour.
Cancer Research UK adds a simple principle: learn what your skin and moles normally look like so that you can spot differences. Nobody can notice a change without a baseline, which is why the habit of looking matters more than any particular technique.
What does a changing mole look like?
The NHS lists several features that tend to separate melanomas from ordinary moles. They are easiest to read side by side.
| Feature | Ordinary mole, usually | Possible warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Round, with smooth edges | Uneven shape, two different halves or uneven edges |
| Colour | One colour | Two or more colours |
| Size | About the size of a pencil end or smaller | Often more than 6mm wide, though smaller ones can occur if found early |
| Change | Stays much the same | Changes in size, shape or colour |
| Sensation | Unremarkable | Swollen, sore, bleeding, itchy or crusty |
Cancer Research UK presents the same ideas through the “ABCDE” checklist: asymmetry, irregular or blurred borders, uneven colour with several shades, and change over time. Both organisations describe the same pattern, so the checklist and the table are two routes to the same list of things to notice.
None of these signs is a diagnosis. Plenty of harmless moles are slightly irregular, and plenty of changes have innocent explanations. The point of the list is to tell you when a mole deserves a professional’s eye, not to settle the question yourself.
Marks that are not classic moles
Not every melanoma looks like a dark mole. The NHS notes that rarer types can affect the eyes, the soles of the feet, the palms of the hands and the genitals. It also advises seeing a GP about a dark area under a nail that was not caused by an injury, and about a new or unusual skin mark that has not gone away after a few weeks, including on the palms or soles.
Cancer Research UK adds that melanomas in people with brown or black skin may not show the usual ABCD signs. They may be pink, ulcerated, or found on the palms, soles or under a nail. The NHS similarly says that people with black or brown skin have a lower chance of melanoma but can still get it, most often on the soles, palms or under a nail. In other words, the places that are easy to forget are the places to remember.
Where do men tend to miss things?
Cancer Research UK says that melanomas in men most often appear on the trunk: the back, stomach or chest. The back is the obvious difficulty, because it is the one large area of skin that no one sees without help.
That suggests a few practical habits:
- Use a mirror for hard-to-see areas. Cancer Research UK suggests this directly. A hand mirror held against a wall mirror brings the back of the shoulders and the lower back into view.
- Ask someone else to look. The charity also suggests asking a partner, friend or relative to check areas you cannot easily see.
- Do not stop at the torso. The NHS says melanomas can appear anywhere, but are more common in areas often exposed to the sun. For many men, that includes the scalp, ears, neck and the backs of the hands. A comb or a hairdresser’s view can help with the scalp, and our guide to male pattern hair loss explains why thinning hair also leaves more scalp exposed.
- Look at feet, palms and nails as well, for the reasons above.
A barber or hairdresser may notice a mark on the back of the neck or behind an ear before you do. It is reasonable to ask them to point out anything they see, though only a clinician can say what it is.
How often should you check, and does screening exist?
Cancer Research UK recommends that everyone check their skin regularly, without specifying a frequency in the guidance reviewed here. A sensible habit is to pair the check with something that already happens, such as the first weekend of each month or a change of season. What matters is that it is regular enough for a change to stand out.
There is also a point about what does not exist. According to Cancer Research UK, there is no national melanoma screening programme in the UK, because research has not shown that the benefits of screening outweigh the risks. People at higher than average risk can have skin checks by a specialist. This is a further reason that self-awareness carries weight: nobody will invite you for a routine skin check, so noticing is largely up to you.
When is it time to see a GP?
The NHS gives non-urgent advice to see a GP if you have:
- a mole that has changed in size, shape or colour;
- a mole that is painful or itchy;
- a mole that is inflamed, bleeding or crusty;
- a new or unusual skin mark that has not gone away after a few weeks;
- a dark area under a nail that was not caused by an injury.
Cancer Research UK gives very similar advice and says to go as soon as possible, because earlier detection makes treatment easier and more likely to succeed.
What happens next is less dramatic than many people fear. The NHS says a GP may take a photograph and send it to a dermatologist, a process called teledermatology. If cancer is suspected, you may be referred urgently, but the NHS is explicit that “this does not definitely mean you have cancer”. An urgent referral is a way of getting a specialist opinion quickly.
What raises the risk, and what can you control?
The NHS names ultraviolet (UV) light, from the sun and from sunbeds, as the most common cause of melanoma. Other factors it lists include:
- older age, although younger people can also develop it;
- pale skin that burns easily, red or blonde hair, and blue or green eyes;
- a large number of freckles or moles;
- a lot of sun exposure with frequent sunburn in the past, or heavy sunbed use;
- a family or personal history of skin cancer.
Most of that list cannot be changed. UV exposure can. This is why sun habits are discussed alongside skin checks: one is about noticing, the other about reducing the exposure that the NHS identifies as the main cause.
How do shade, clothing and sunscreen fit together?
The NHS is clear that sunscreen is one layer among several: “do not rely on sunscreen alone to protect yourself from the sun”. Its guidance suggests thinking in terms of timing, covering up and then sunscreen on whatever remains exposed.
Timing and shade
In the UK, the NHS advises avoiding strong sun between 11am and 3pm from March to October. It also suggests checking the UV index and considering protection when it reaches 3 or higher.
Clothes and hats
This is where a style publication has something practical to add. The NHS recommends a wide-brimmed hat that shades the face, neck and ears, long sleeves and trousers in close-weave fabric, and wraparound or wide-armed sunglasses marked CE and British Standard 12312-1:2013 E. A baseball cap shades the front of the face but leaves the ears and the back of the neck uncovered, which is worth knowing if a cap is your default.
Our explainer on fibre content labels shows what the percentages on a garment do and do not tell you; the NHS advice is about close-weave fabric, which is a matter of construction as well as fibre.
Sunscreen
For the skin that is still uncovered, the NHS advises:
- at least SPF 30 for UVB protection, and at least 4-star UVA protection;
- about 6 to 8 teaspoons to cover an adult’s whole body, since thin application reduces protection;
- applying 30 minutes before going out if you will be out long enough to risk burning, and again just before;
- reapplying every 2 hours, and after swimming, towel-drying, sweating or rubbing off, even with water-resistant products.
Our guide to what the SPF number and stars really promise explains those labels in more detail. A related point for men who shave: freshly shaved skin can be more sensitive, and our piece on shaving without irritation covers aftercare, including why sunscreen is a sensible daily habit.
A short worked example of a monthly check
The following routine takes about ten minutes and uses only a mirror and decent light.
- Stand in good light and look at your face, ears, neck and scalp, parting hair as needed.
- Check the front of the torso, arms (including underarms and palms) and hands, including between the fingers and under the nails.
- Use a hand mirror to look at the back of the neck, shoulders, back and the backs of the legs.
- Sit down to examine the legs, feet, soles and between the toes.
- Note anything new or changed. A photograph taken in the same light each month gives a baseline, and it can also be shown to a GP.
The photographs are a personal record, not a diagnostic tool, so keep them somewhere private.
Making skin awareness a habit
Look at the whole of your skin now and again, ask for help with the back, treat a changing mole as a reason to book an appointment, and use shade and clothing first, with sunscreen covering the rest.
This article is general information based on published NHS and Cancer Research UK guidance, not medical advice. If you notice a new or changing mole or any other skin change that worries you, speak to your GP, a pharmacist or a dermatologist.
Sources: NHS (Melanoma skin cancer: symptoms); NHS (Melanoma skin cancer: causes); NHS (Sunscreen and sun safety); Cancer Research UK (Melanoma symptoms); Cancer Research UK (Melanoma screening)
