ABCDE is an mnemonic device used to remember the steps when analyzing skin diseases such as skin cancer and can be very useful in identifying warning signs. The A stands for asymmetrical. When a mole is benign, when your draw a line in the middle it will be symmetrical. But, if the mole is malignant it will be asymmetrical, and this can be a warning sign for melanoma. The B stands for border. A malignant mole's borders tend to be uneven and the edges may be notched (in the shape of a V). This can also be warning sign for early melanoma. C stands for color. If a mole is one shade (usually brown) it is benign, but if it has a variety of shades or colors, that can be a sign of melanoma. The D stands for diameter. Malignant moles are usually
