Hi Max,
There are risk factors for melanoma which would heighten the vigilance for skin cancer. Among those are being
fair-skinned and being blond or red-haired (this you can’t modify), sun exposure (this you can modify, be wary
that sunscreen may reduce sunburns but it is unclear whether this actually translates to lower cancer risk).
Since the moles are on your back, I’m concerned if you are able to monitor them at all. The examination looks
for nodules, redness, irregularity of the edges, pigment variation particularity of those that are 5-6 mm.
Change over time is also something to observe. The presence of the hair does not guarantee they are always
benign. As I wrote above, the hair color influences risk, not hair on the moles themselves.
If you have a lot of them, the best thing to do is to have periodic examinations with a dermatologist or any
partner to inspect your back. The intervals would be around 6 to 8 weeks (this may be easier to do if the
partner is living with you). If needed, photographs would be taken to monitor change over time.
