*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature P: Personality Disorders.

Symptoms

Main symptoms of melanoma skin cancer

A new mole or a change in an existing mole may be signs of melanoma.

Melanomas can appear anywhere on your body, but they're more common in areas that are often exposed to the sun.

Some rarer types can affect the eyes, soles of the feet, palms of the hands or genitals.

Check your skin for any unusual changes. Use a mirror or ask a partner or friend to check any areas you cannot see.

Mole with an uneven shape or edges

Normal moles are usually round with smooth edges.

Melanomas are often an uneven shape. They may have 2 different shaped halves and uneven edges.

Mole with a mix of colours

Normal moles are usually only 1 colour.

Melanomas are often a mix of 2 or more colours.

Large mole

Normal moles are usually small.

Melanomas tend to be bigger, often more than 6mm wide.

Mole that changes over time

Normal moles usually do not change over time.

A mole that changes size, shape or colour may be a melanoma.

Other signs to look out for include moles that are:

swollen and sore
bleeding
itchy
crusty

See a GP if:

you have a mole that's changed size, shape or colour
you have a mole that's painful or itchy
you have a mole that's inflamed, bleeding or crusty
you have a new or unusual mark on your skin that has not gone away after a few weeks
you have a dark area under a nail that has not been caused by an injury

Finding a melanoma as early as possible can mean it's easier to treat.

What happens at the GP appointment

You will be asked some questions about your health, family medical history, medical conditions and your symptoms.

Tell the GP if you have a mole, freckle or other area of skin that's recently changed. Also tell them if you or a member of your family have had skin cancer in the past.

The GP will look at your mole and any other areas of affected skin. They may ask you if they can take a photograph of it to send to a specialist (dermatologist) to look at. This is called teledermatology.

Referral to a specialist

The GP may refer you to a specialist in hospital for more tests if they think you have a condition that needs to be investigated.

This may be an urgent referral, usually within 2 weeks, if you have certain symptoms. This does not definitely mean you have cancer.

Find out more

OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature P: Personality Disorders. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
Photos: LightFieldStudios and one of VladOrlov, Stockcube, darak77, ajr_images or rawpixel.com.