Mole or melanoma? How to spot skin cancer

It's on Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe's lower left cheek, on supermodel Cindy Crawford's left upper lip, and on the outer left eye of Filipino actor Piolo Pascual.

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"It" is a mole, or beauty mark, that noticeable spot on your face that enhances your attractiveness and makes you uniquely you. Sometimes, though, a "mole" can be a symptom of a serious health concern.

"Most moles, dark spots, and skin growths are harmless," says Dr. Donna Marie L. Sarrosa of the Dermatology and Phototherapy Center of Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed). "Unfortunately, some growths tend to be mistaken for moles when they're actually melanoma, a form of skin cancer that begins in the melanocytes, or the cells responsible for producing melanin, the pigment that gives our skin its color."

Can Filipinos get skin cancer? While skin cancer is associated with Caucasians, given that they produce less melanin, Asians aren't exempt from developing the disease.