{"id":5710,"date":"2011-10-27T10:09:29","date_gmt":"2011-10-27T09:09:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/"},"modified":"2026-10-16T11:25:41","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T10:25:41","slug":"abcde-rule","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/melanoma-diagnosis\/abcde-rule\/","title":{"rendered":"ABCDE rule"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"im26-abcde-guide\">\n<div class=\"abcde-summary\"><strong>A reminder for observing your skin, not a diagnostic test.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The ABCDE rule highlights changes to discuss with a dermatologist. You do not need to identify every feature or wait for two to appear: even one suspicious sign warrants assessment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<nav class=\"abcde-toc\" aria-label=\"On this page\"><strong>On this page<\/strong><\/p>\n<div><a href=\"#abcde-a\">A \u00b7 Asymmetry<\/a><a href=\"#abcde-b\">B \u00b7 Border<\/a><a href=\"#abcde-c\">C \u00b7 Colour<\/a><a href=\"#abcde-d\">D \u00b7 Diameter<\/a><a href=\"#abcde-e\">E \u00b7 Evolving<\/a><a href=\"#quando-controllo\">When to seek advice<\/a><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<p class=\"abcde-image-note\">The images support the explanation. Do not use them to decide whether your own mole is benign or malignant.<\/p>\n<section class=\"abcde-row\" id=\"abcde-a\">\n<div class=\"abcde-copy\">\n<h2><span aria-hidden=\"true\">A<\/span>Asymmetry<\/h2>\n<h3>The two halves look different<\/h3>\n<p>Imagine dividing the spot in half: one side may differ in shape from the other. This is a feature to have assessed, not a diagnosis.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/abcde-asimmetria.jpg\" width=\"450\" height=\"350\" alt=\"Archive photograph of a pigmented skin lesion with an asymmetric shape\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\/><figcaption>Photograph from the site archive. A visual comparison cannot provide a diagnosis.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"abcde-row\" id=\"abcde-b\">\n<div class=\"abcde-copy\">\n<h2><span aria-hidden=\"true\">B<\/span>Border<\/h2>\n<h3>An uneven outline<\/h3>\n<p>Look for edges that are notched, irregular or poorly defined. An irregular mole is not necessarily melanoma: a dermatologist needs to assess it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure><svg viewBox=\"0 0 320 200\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Diagram of an irregular outline\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M78 62 Q110 30 136 55 Q170 22 190 52 L230 60 Q258 89 224 111 Q251 148 211 151 Q180 185 152 153 Q110 176 101 142 Q60 139 84 109 Q52 89 78 62Z\" fill=\"#705040\" stroke=\"#1c244b\" stroke-width=\"2\"\/><\/svg><figcaption>Illustrative diagram of an irregular outline.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"abcde-row\" id=\"abcde-c\">\n<div class=\"abcde-copy\">\n<h2><span aria-hidden=\"true\">C<\/span>Colour<\/h2>\n<h3>Different shades within one spot<\/h3>\n<p>Uneven colour, including brown or black areas and sometimes white, red or blue patches, is a change to discuss with a doctor. A difference from the usual appearance also matters.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure><svg viewBox=\"0 0 320 200\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Diagram of different colours within one lesion\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><defs><clipPath id=\"abcde-color-mask\"><ellipse cx=\"160\" cy=\"100\" rx=\"85\" ry=\"65\"\/><\/clipPath><\/defs><g clip-path=\"url(#abcde-color-mask)\"><rect x=\"70\" y=\"30\" width=\"180\" height=\"140\" fill=\"#b88965\"\/><ellipse cx=\"133\" cy=\"91\" rx=\"56\" ry=\"62\" fill=\"#5b3a2d\"\/><ellipse cx=\"184\" cy=\"126\" rx=\"38\" ry=\"38\" fill=\"#292124\"\/><ellipse cx=\"207\" cy=\"69\" rx=\"41\" ry=\"26\" fill=\"#d4a49a\"\/><\/g><\/svg><figcaption>Illustrative diagram: these colours are not a diagnostic scale.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"abcde-row\" id=\"abcde-d\">\n<div class=\"abcde-copy\">\n<h2><span aria-hidden=\"true\">D<\/span>Diameter<\/h2>\n<h3>Size matters, but is not enough<\/h3>\n<p>A diameter greater than 6 mm is one of the warning signs. <strong>Melanoma can also be smaller:<\/strong> do not wait for a spot to reach this size before seeking advice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure><svg viewBox=\"0 0 320 200\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Diagram showing the diameter across a lesion\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><ellipse cx=\"160\" cy=\"76\" rx=\"48\" ry=\"40\" fill=\"#705040\"\/><path d=\"M112 135H208 M112 124V146 M208 124V146\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#315fc3\" stroke-width=\"2\"\/><text x=\"160\" y=\"171\" text-anchor=\"middle\" font-family=\"Arial\" font-size=\"16\" fill=\"#1c244b\">diameter<\/text><\/svg><figcaption>Diagram not to scale. Do not measure a mole by comparing it with the screen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"abcde-row\" id=\"abcde-e\">\n<div class=\"abcde-copy\">\n<h2><span aria-hidden=\"true\">E<\/span>Evolving<\/h2>\n<h3>Changes over time<\/h3>\n<p>A spot that changes in size, shape or colour, or looks different from the others, deserves attention. Itching or bleeding are also reasons to speak to a doctor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure><svg viewBox=\"0 0 320 200\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Diagram of a change in shape, size and colour over time\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><ellipse cx=\"78\" cy=\"94\" rx=\"29\" ry=\"25\" fill=\"#a67854\"\/><path d=\"M131 94H179 M169 84L179 94L169 104\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#315fc3\" stroke-width=\"2\"\/><path d=\"M213 60 Q251 48 271 76 Q287 107 256 133 Q224 142 205 114 Q192 84 213 60Z\" fill=\"#654537\"\/><text x=\"78\" y=\"166\" text-anchor=\"middle\" font-family=\"Arial\" font-size=\"15\" fill=\"#606781\">before<\/text><text x=\"240\" y=\"166\" text-anchor=\"middle\" font-family=\"Arial\" font-size=\"15\" fill=\"#606781\">over time<\/text><\/svg><figcaption>Illustrative change over time; this does not represent a timeframe or disease stage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"abcde-action\" id=\"quando-controllo\">\n<h2>When to seek advice<\/h2>\n<p>Contact your doctor or dermatologist about a concerning new spot, a mole unlike your other moles, or a change in an existing lesion. Mention bleeding, itching or a sore that does not heal.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The absence of ABCDE signs does not rule out melanoma.<\/strong> Some melanomas do not follow this pattern. Do not delay an appointment while waiting for further changes.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"abcde-limits\">\n<h2>How a suspicious lesion is assessed<\/h2>\n<p>A dermatologist examines the skin and may use dermoscopy. If a lesion is suspicious, they may recommend removing it for histological examination, which can confirm the diagnosis.<\/p>\n<p>Continue with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/guides\/diagnosis\/\">guide to recognising the signs and diagnosis<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"abcde-sources\">\n<h2>Sources and update<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aad.org\/public\/diseases\/skin-cancer\/abcdes-melanoma\" rel=\"noopener\">American Academy of Dermatology \u2014 ABCDEs of melanoma<\/a>: ABCDE features and smaller lesions.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cancer.org\/cancer\/types\/melanoma-skin-cancer\/detection-diagnosis-staging\/signs-and-symptoms.html\" rel=\"noopener\">American Cancer Society \u2014 Signs and symptoms of melanoma<\/a>: additional signs and limitations of the rule.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.airc.it\/cancro\/informazioni-tumori\/guida-ai-tumori\/melanoma-cutaneo\" rel=\"noopener\">Fondazione AIRC \u2014 Cutaneous melanoma (Italian)<\/a>: diagnostic assessment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Editorial update and sources consulted: 16 October 2026. This page provides information and does not replace a medical assessment.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Asymmetry, border, colour, diameter and evolving: five signs to know, with illustrations and guidance on when to seek medical advice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"parent":5443,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5710","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>ABCDE rules<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The ABCDE Rule originally described by Friedman et al. it is now included in The American Cancer Society&#039;s The Seven Warning Signals of Cancer and is a simple method that allows you to identify a nevus at risk.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, 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