Wonder what your risk is for melanoma, or skin cancer? Just count the number of moles you have on your right arm to discover your chances. More than 11 moles means you have a higher-than-average risk, say researchers.
As melanoma develops from abnormal moles, the number of moles you have on your body can be a good indicator of your risk. And looking at your right arm can give you a good idea of your total count, say researchers from King’s College London.
If you have 11 or more moles on your right arm, you’re likely to have more than 100 moles on your entire body, and that would mean your risk of melanoma is five times greater than someone with only a few moles. People with seven moles on their right arm have nine times the risk.
Moles are small, coloured spots on the skin, which are long-lasting and are not directly caused by sun exposure, although excessive sun exposure-when the skin is badly burnt-can make a mole malignant, or cancerous. They shouldn’t be confused with freckles, which are temporary and are caused by sun exposure.
(Source: BBC, October 19th, 2015)
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