Having more than 11 moles on one arm indicates a higher risk of melanoma.
Counting moles on the right arm is a good indicator of total moles on the body. More than 100 indicates five times the normal risk.
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer affecting more than 13,000 people in Australia each year.
It could develop from abnormal moles, so the risk of being diagnosed with a melanoma is linked to the number of moles a patient has.
Researchers from King’s College London studied a large group of female twins over a period of eight years, collecting information on skin type, freckles and moles on their bodies.
After repeating the exercise on a smaller group of around 400 men and women with melanoma, they came up with a quick and easy way to assess the risk of skin cancer.
Females with more than seven moles on their right arm had nine times the risk of having more than 50 on their whole body. Those with more than 11 on their right arm were more likely to have more than 100 on their body in total, meaning they were at a higher risk of developing a melanoma.
What is the difference between moles and freckles?
Freckles are small usually pale brown areas of skin, which are often temporary and are usually linked to sun exposure
Moles are small coloured spots on the skin made up of cells called melanocytes, which produce the colour (pigment) in your skin. They are long-lasting and are not directly linked to sun exposure, but excess sun exposure will increase your risk of skin cancer and can make a mole turn malignant
Moles can be flat, raised, smooth or rough and may have hair growing from them
They are usually brownish in colour and are circular or oval with a smooth edge
Most moles are completely harmless
Things to look for: Uneven colouring, uneven or ragged edges, bleeding, itching, enlargement
