Why March Is the Perfect Time to Check Your Moles Before Summer Sun
As the weather starts to warm up and we spend more time outside, March is an ideal moment to give your skin a careful once-over—especially your moles—before the strong summer sun arrives. Catching suspicious spots now can make a major difference in detecting skin cancer early, when it’s most treatable, and professional organizations like the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) strongly encourage regular skin self-exams and timely visits with a board-certified dermatologist if you notice anything new or changing.
Why Timing Matters: March Before Summer
After months of winter layers, many people simply haven’t looked closely at their skin in a while. March is a natural “reset” point before shorts, tank tops, and beach days return. Checking your moles now helps you:
- Spot new or changing moles before they get weeks or months of additional UV exposure.
- Establish a baseline for how your moles look going into spring and summer.
- Schedule a dermatology visit in plenty of time before vacation or peak sun season if something looks worrisome.
What to Look For: The ABCDEs of Melanoma
Dermatologists often teach patients the “ABCDE” rule as a simple way to remember common warning signs of melanoma in moles and pigmented spots:
- A – Asymmetry: One half of the mole does not match the other half in shape.
- B – Border: The edges look irregular, scalloped, notched, or blurred rather than smooth.
- C – Color: There are multiple colors or shades (tan, brown, black, sometimes white, red, or blue) instead of a single even color.
- D – Diameter: Many melanomas are larger than about the size of a pencil eraser, but dangerous spots can be smaller, especially when found early.
- E – Evolving: The mole is changing—getting bigger, darker, raised, itchy, scaly, or starting to bleed or look different from your other spots.
If you notice any of these features, it’s important to have the area evaluated by a board-certified dermatologist rather than waiting to “see what happens” over the summer.
How to Do a Quick At‑Home Mole Check
A thorough skin self-exam usually takes just a few minutes and can be built into your monthly routine. To examine your skin effectively:
- Use a bright light, a full-length mirror, and a hand mirror so you can see all areas clearly.
- Check your entire body: face, scalp (part your hair), neck, torso, arms (front and back), hands, fingernails, legs, feet (including soles and between toes), back, and buttocks.
- Look for “ugly duckling” spots—moles that look different from your others in size, shape, or color.
- Consider keeping a “mole map” or taking photos so you can track whether spots change over time.
If you find any mole that looks new, stands out, or has changed since the last time you checked, mark it down and contact your dermatologist.
Who Should Be Especially Careful
Everyone can benefit from a March mole check, but some people are at higher risk for skin cancer and should be extra vigilant and discuss regular professional exams with their dermatologist, including those who:
- Have a personal history of skin cancer (melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, or squamous cell carcinoma).
- Have many moles, especially if some look atypical.
- Have a family history of melanoma in close relatives.
- Have fair skin, light hair or eyes, or skin that burns easily.
- Have a history of frequent sunburns or indoor tanning.
For these individuals, a spring skin exam is not just “nice to have”—it’s an important part of preventive health before months of higher UV exposure.
What to Do If You See Something Suspicious
If your March self-check reveals a spot that is:
- New and persistent.
- Changing in size, shape, or color.
- Itching, crusting, or bleeding.
- Just looks “different” from your other moles or makes you uneasy.
Early evaluation allows for simple monitoring, quick removal, or biopsy when needed, often with a much smaller procedure and better outcome than if you delay.