Introduction
The goal of this guide is to provide the reader with information on moles -the technical term is nevus (singular) or nevi (plural), which due to their large concentration of pigmentation cells (melanocytes) are often the place where melanoma lesions first begin. While we hope you find the links in this guide informative, they cannot substitute for an examination by a qualified dermatologists. Pre-cancerous nevi are notoriously difficult to detect, even for a trained professional. When it doubt, have a dermatologist check it out.

For some general information, we turn first to the National Cancer Institute's What You Need To Know About (tm) Moles and Dysplastic Nevi. To get back to this page, click on the >Intro button at the top of the page.

Our next stop will be a tutorial from the University of California on how to spot a melanoma. It will teach you the difference between a harmless mole and a something potentially more troublesome. The pictures in the tutorial are excellent but may take a moment to load on a slow connection. Please be patient. After all, this is important.

***After you've completed the tutorial, click 'Review' on the navigation bar at the top.

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