Half of Irish people do not monitor their moles for changes which could signal skin cancer, a new survey has found.

The survey of 1,000 people was carried out last month on behalf of the Marie Keating Foundation, and the results were released to coincide with the launch of its new Spot the Difference campaign.

The campaign aims to help people how to tell the difference between normal moles and potentially cancerous ones. It is focusing on melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer.

Rates of melanoma in Ireland have been increasing in recent years in both men and women and many Irish people have an increased risk of this disease as a result of their fair skin, tendency to burn and the fact that they have lots of freckles and moles.

However, according to the survey, one in five men in Ireland are not aware of any of the visual signs of skin cancer.

Speaking at the launch of the campaign, Dr Patrick Ormond, a consultant dermatologist at St James's Hospital in Dublin, emphasised that while it is important to protect yourself when in the sun, ‘it is also vital that you get to know your skin'.

"Examine it head to toe once a month, so that if a freckle or mole starts to change, you can catch it early. Spotting the difference between a normal mole or freckle and a potentially cancerous one is easier if you look for the ABCDE signs, and if you see any, see your GP straight away," he commented.

The ABCDE signs of melanoma are:
-Asymmetry - if you draw a line through a mole with melanoma, its two sides will not match
-Border - With early melanoma, the border of a mole tends to be uneven
-Colour - Most healthy moles are all one colour. If a mole has a number of different shades of brown or black, it should be checked out. Melanomas can also be other colours, such as red or blue
-Diameter - Melanomas tend to be larger than the rubber at the top of a pencil (6mm or a quarter of an inch)
-Evolving - Any change in size, shape, colour, height or a new symptom, such as bleeding, crusting or itching is a warning sign.

"Many people may not know how dangerous melanoma is but, if left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body and be fatal. Early detection is key to survival. It can appear as a new or existing spot, freckle or mole that changes in colour, shape or size.

"They are most frequent on the upper back on men and on the lower legs in women but they can grow anywhere. Ask a family member or friend to help you check your skin and learn how to spot the difference. It could save your life," commented Helen Forristal, director of nursing services at the Marie Keating Foundation.

The Spot the Difference campaign includes an information website and a free seminar for the general public on May 21 at the Alexander Hotel in Dublin. To register for this seminar, or for more information on the campaign, click here