Melanoma vs. a mole

Melanoma vs. a mole is an important distinction between a skin cancer and what is usually a benign pigmented lesion, colloquially called a mole. Not every mole is dangerous, but any lesion that grows quickly, changes color, has irregular borders, bleeds, itches, or looks different from other moles requires dermatological assessment. The ABCDE rule can be helpful, covering asymmetry, border, color, diameter, and evolution of the lesion. A definitive diagnosis requires a dermatological examination and, if indicated, a histopathological examination.