Woman circles husband’s moles before he went to the doctor’s & here’s what he came back with

TikTok has blessed us with many viral beauty hacks and plenty of educational videos. One such video that has an element of humour to it is this video of a woman circling all the moles on her husband’s body before he visited the dermatologist.

https://www.tiktok.com/@brinlee.miless/video/7036437556443139374

Brinlee Miles’ husband’s family has a history of skin cancer, so naturally, she was concerned for her husband. She was unable to accompany him to the doctor’s visit, and so she resorted to this creative method to ensure that not a single mole on his skin would be left unchecked by the dermatologist.

She circled any moles that looked suspicious to her on her husband’s chest and back using a pen, and sent him to the doctor’s like that.

In an entertaining turn of events, the dermatologist appeared to share the same sense of humour, and wrote notes beside each circled mole to indicate whether each mole was fine or required further testing.

She uploaded this video onto TikTok where it soon went viral, with 11.6 million views, 1.3 million likes, and 37.1 thousand shares at the time of writing. She has even uploaded updates on the biopsy done on the moles, and mentioned how the one on his chest contains cancerous cells, and it will need to be removed.

Despite the amusing aspect of this journey, it brings to light a more serious issue. Skin cancer, or any form of cancer, is not something that should be laughed at.

In Singapore alone, skin cancer ranks sixth and seven in male and female cancers respectively, so it is important to get any abnormal moles checked out to be on the safe side.

Circling these moles actually allow your dermatologist to zoom in more precisely on concerning moles and give you a more thorough check-up, so although entertaining, it can be quite beneficial.

You can even take a photo of more specific moles to show to your doctor if required. Everyone has moles on their skin, but it does not mean that your moles contain cancerous cells or are dangerous.

How to monitor your own moles

It is important to know the number and appearance of your moles so that when they change, you are aware and can get them checked out. When your moles change, it could be cause for concern as this might indicate signs of melanoma, a type of skin cancer that develops in new or existing moles.

Most doctors would suggest looking out for abnormalities in your moles using the “ABCDE” method, which stands for:

• Asymmetry: When both sides of the mole do not look the same
• Borders: If the mole has a jagged and irregular outline
• Colours: If the mole has more than one colour
• Diameter: If the mole is more than 6mm in size
• Evolution: If the mole changes in colour, size, shape, or if the mole is itching or bleeding

Skin cancer does not need to run in one’s family history for it to develop, and can occur in anyone because of skin cells being damaged from being exposed to harmful  UV exposure from the sun. This is why SPF and sunscreen are the most important steps in skincare and body care.

To avoid harmful UV exposure from the sun, you should regularly apply high SPF sunscreen – any sunscreen that is SPF 30 and above with a minimum of four-star UVA protection will suffice. Wear appropriate clothing to shield you from the sun, and stay in the shade from 10am to 2pm on sunny days.

Skin cancer is not a trivial matter, so please visit a dermatologist if you are concerned about any of your moles or have a history of skin cancer in your family! You can also take a page out of  Brinlee’s book and circle any moles with a pen if you are worried your doctor will miss them out.

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