By Jenna Peart, MD, FAAD
Dermatology care in Boulder, Louisville, and Longmont, Colorado

Children experience rapid growth and development, and their skin is no exception. New moles commonly appear throughout childhood, and most are entirely benign. Here’s how to check your child’s skin and when to see a dermatologist.

Understanding Normal Moles in Children

Typical moles in childhood are:

• • Symmetrical in shape
  • Uniform in color
  • Well-defined at the borders
  • Round or oval
  • Stable in size and appearance over time

New moles during childhood and adolescence are normal and expected. Thankfully, melanoma in children is extremely uncommon. For children under age 10, the incidence of melanoma is fewer than 1.8 cases per million. During puberty, this rate increases slightly, but it is still rare.

When to Seek Expert Evaluation

Parents should monitor for the following features, aligned with the ABCDE criteria:

• • Asymmetry: one half does not match the other
  • Border irregularity: scalloped or poorly defined edges
  • Color variation: multiple shades or sudden change in pigmentation
  • Diameter: greater than approximately 6 mm or rapidly enlarging
  • Evolving: any noticeable change in size, color, shape, or symptoms

Additional red flags in children include:

• • A mole appearing distinctly different from others on the child (“ugly duckling sign”)
  • Persistent itching, bleeding, or failure to heal
  • Rapid changes in moles present since birth
  • Moles in high-sun-exposure areas that begin to evolve
  • Any mole demonstrating these features warrants a dermatologist’s check

The Critical Role of Sun Protection in Childhood

UV protection in early life is one of the most effective strategies for reducing melanoma risk:

• • One to two blistering sunburns during childhood/adolescence can double lifetime melanoma risk
  • Five or more blistering sunburns before age 20 may increase melanoma risk by approximately 80%
  • Childhood and adolescent sunburns are a strong predictor of melanoma later in life

Follow these recommendations to protect your family’s skin:

• • Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen (at least SPF30+) use when outdoors
  • Reapplication every two hours, or every hour when swimming or heavily sweating
  • Use of UPF-rated protective clothing, hats, and shade
  • Avoidance of peak UV hours when feasible (generally 10 AM to 2 PM)

Summary

For children, sun protection is the most important life-long habit to establish to protect from skin cancer down the road. Check moles for any dramatic changes or anything that stands out as being very different from everything else. If you see something concerning or you’re not sure, schedule an appointment with a dermatologist.

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Resources

About Boulder Medical Center

BMC Dermatology serves children and adults with clinics in Boulder, Louisville, and Longmont, Colorado

• • Get to know Dr. Jenna Peart, dermatologist
  • About Dermatology at Boulder Medical Center
  • To book an appointment, please call (303) 440-3013

Article References

AIM at Melanoma Foundation.
Age and Melanoma Risk; Pediatric Melanoma Statistics.
Available at: https://www.aimatmelanoma.org/melanoma-101/understanding-melanoma/melanoma-risk-factors/age-and-risk/
Accessed 2025.

Rodriguez‐Galindo C, et al.
Pediatric melanoma: A population‐based study of pediatric melanoma in British Columbia.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open. 2017;5(3):e1269.

MD Anderson Cancer Center
Protect kids from skin cancer: Sun safety and childhood melanoma risk.
Available at: https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/protect-kids-from-skin-cancer
Accessed 2025.

Wu S, et al.
 Five or more blistering sunburns before age twenty may increase melanoma risk by eighty percent.
ecancer Medical Science. 2014.
Available at: https://ecancer.org/en/news/5785
Accessed 2025.

National Cancer Institute.
Sunburn and cancer risk — Cancer Trends Progress Report.
Available at: https://progressreport.cancer.gov/prevention/sun/sunburn
Accessed 2025.