Dr Amir Khan's five-word message to absolutely anyone who has moles

Dr Amir Khan's five-word message to absolutely anyone who has moles People are being urged to check their back, scalp, behind their ears, the backs of their legs and between their toes Well-known TV doctor Dr Amir Khan has issued an important five-word message to anyone with moles or marks on their skin. Moles can show up on just about anyone. Almost everyone has at least one mole, and most adults typically have between 10 and 40 common moles on their skin. In a new video uploaded to his Instagram account today (Saturday, August 15), the NHS GP and ITV regular shared some potentially life-saving information for the British public. The video is from a recent episode of ITV's This Morning, where he hosted a live skin lesion clinic and checked several people's moles and marks for anything suspicious. In the video's caption, Dr Amir Khan issued a vital five-word message to his followers. He said: "Get to know your moles". He also stressed the importance of getting familiar with any marks, lumps, and bumps you may have on your skin. He explained: "Yesterday on This Morning, we did a live skin clinic — looking at the lumps, bumps, moles and marks that so many of us have on our skin. Most of what we saw were reassuringly common, harmless skin lesions. But one stood out as particularly concerning and needing further assessment. And that’s exactly why knowing your own skin matters. "You don’t need to be an expert. You don’t need to diagnose yourself. But you do need to notice when something is new, changing, bleeding, itching, not healing, or simply looks different from the rest. "Get to know your moles and marks. Check the places you normally forget — your back, scalp, behind your ears, the backs of your legs and between your toes. And if you spot something you’re worried about, please get it checked rather than watching and waiting indefinitely." He added: "The vast majority of skin lesions we see in general practice are benign — but occasionally, amongst all those ordinary marks, there’s one we really don’t want to miss. A skin check takes minutes. It could make an enormous difference." Moles develop when pigment cells known as melanocytes gather in clusters. Most moles appear during childhood, adolescence, or before age 40. They can appear on any part of the skin, such as the scalp, fingers, toes, and even beneath the nails. People with fair skin or a family history of moles usually have more of them, and these moles are affected by sun exposure and genetics. Experts say it is crucial to watch for a new mole in adulthood or changes in an old mole's size, shape, or colour. To learn more about warning signs, you can use the NHS ABCDE guide. If you see any bleeding, itching, or an irregular border, it's important to get it checked by a doctor. When should you 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 The NHS says: "Finding a melanoma as early as possible can mean it's easier to treat. Moles only need treating if they're a sign of melanoma. If the GP thinks your mole is melanoma, you'll be referred to a specialist in hospital. You should get an appointment within two weeks."