What are the signs of melanoma skin cancer?

I had a mole on my shoulder that started spreading and developed a dark black shade mixed with red. My advice is to use your phone to take a photo of any suspicious spot every month to track changes. If it is evolving, show it to a skin specialist without delay.

Keep it simple: if you have a spot that looks totally different from all your other moles (the 'ugly duckling' sign), get it biopsied. Don't waste time on forums or applying random creams. A direct visit to a good dermatologist is the only way to get a real answer.

If you have a mole that's trying to grow bigger than a pencil eraser, it's definitely behaving badly. No need to panic and write your will just yet, but do let a doctor take a look. It is probably just a dramatic freckle, but better safe than sorry!

At my age, new spots appear on my skin almost every day and it is exhausting to keep track. But if you see a mole that looks like it's trying to grow its own branches or starts itching like crazy, that's your cue to visit the clinic. Don't ignore it like we ignore our diet plans.