When to See a Doctor About a Mole or Skin Spot

We'd rather see ten harmless moles than miss one that mattered. If any of the following is true, please book an assessment — a referral isn't needed for cosmetic concerns, and medical assessments are OHIP-covered with a referral from your family doctor.

A mole has changed in shape, colour or size over the past few months.

A spot itches, bleeds, scabs or won't heal within 3–4 weeks.

A new pigmented spot has appeared after age 40.

A mole looks visibly different from the others on your body (the "ugly duckling" sign).

You have a personal or family history of melanoma.

A mole that snags on clothing or jewellery.

Skin tags, cysts, or seborrheic keratoses that bother you cosmetically.

Warts that have spread or aren't responding to over-the-counter treatments.

Cosmetic consultations are often booked within the same week. Medical assessments with a doctor's referral typically run 6–8 weeks, but we hold slots for suspicious lesions and can often see urgent cases sooner — call us if you're worried.