Moles are small, coloured spots on the skin. Most people have them and they are usually nothing to worry about unless they change shape, size or colour. The appearance of a new mole or a change to an existing mole is the most common sign of melanoma, the fifth most common skin cancer in the UK.¹²

Melanoma skin cancer can occur anywhere on the body; however, the most commonly affected areas are the back in men and the legs in women. Melanomas are uncommon in areas that are protected from sun exposure.

In most cases, melanomas have an irregular shape and are more than one colour; they may also be larger than normal and sometimes may become itchy, bleed or have crusting. Customers should be advised to watch out for any new moles or a mole that gradually changes shape, size or colour.¹³

The Boots Mole Scanning Service

The Boots Mole Scanning Service has been developed to help detect suspicious moles that may indicate the presence of skin cancer and to raise awareness of the importance of regularly self-checking moles, which could lead to the early detection and treatment of skin cancer.

The Mole Scanning Service is for those aged 18 years old and over. If customers are younger than 18 years and have any concerns about their moles or pigmented lesions, you should refer them to their GP.

There are two stages of the Mole Scanning Service – consultation and results. You can advise customers that the consultation will take about 20 minutes and they should receive their results within one week.

Please note that the following moles or pigmented lesions cannot be scanned:

• Located in an intimate area of the body (e.g. genitals, areas of the breasts covered by a bra)
• On the eyelid or the tip of an ear
• Covered by an excessive amount of hair
• Wet, open or bleeding
• On a tattoo.

If any of these exclusions apply, customers should be referred to their GP.