Q:How can I tell the difference between a cancerous skin mark and a harmless mole?

A: First, you don't have to assess your moles alone. Dermatologists are trained to notice even the subtlest warning signs. I recommend yearly skin checks to everyone -- and twice-yearly exams to anyone at an increased risk for skin cancer (due to a family history, for example, or very fair skin).

But you're right that examining your own skin is a crucial first line of defense. Here's a quick list to help you distinguish between harmless and worrisome moles. It's as easy, in fact, as ABC(D)!

• Asymmetry: Irregularly shaped moles, in which one side isn't the mirror image of the other

• Borders: Moles with fuzzy or indistinct borders

• Color: Moles that are more than one color, or include black, white, red or yellow hues

• Diameter: Moles that are larger than a quarter-inch (about the diameter of a pencil eraser)

It's also important to note changing or rapidly growing moles, so familiarize yourself with all your skin's marks now to spot changes down the road.

These are the warning signs of melanoma, which is cancer of skin's pigment cells. It most often affects those who are prone to excessive pigmentation (i.e. redheads with freckles or those whose skin stays dark where cuts and bug bites have healed). There is another type of skin cancer, though: carcinoma. I'll tackle its warning signs in my next column.

Dr. Leslie Baumann is a board-certified dermatologist at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine. E-mail: drb@drbaumann.com

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