Every adult should self-examine at regular intervals to detect any early indications of melanoma. Self-examination is done using the A-B-C-D criteria:

A=Asymmetry (the left side of the lesion is unlike the right side)

B=Border Irregularity (the lesion has a scalloped or poorly defined border)

C=Color Variation (not all parts of the lesion are the same color; within the lesion may be patches of tan, brown, black, pink, white or blue)

D=Diameter (a melanoma is usually larger than 6 millimeters in diameter, about the size of a pencil eraser)

It is worth noting that some melanomas do not conform to the A-B-C-D criteria, so any suspicious mole should be examined by a dermatologist.