Does that mole on your skin look threatening? When it does, many people turn to Google for information about possible skin cancer. But if you do go online, it’s better to rely on medical illustrations rather than medical photos.

A study published recently found that illustrations were more effective than photos in helping people identify problematic moles. Researchers at the University of Utah used eye-tracking studies to determine what visual cues their study participants looked at while learning about skin abnormalities. They focused on people’s “fixation points,” the areas where their eyes linger long enough to let their brain absorb information.

Photographs tended to help people become more confident in determining whether a mole was normal. But illustrations made the participants study atypical moles much longer than they did photographs. That led the researchers to conclude that illustrations were more effective for assessing potentially cancerous moles.

None of the findings are meant to replace a doctor’s advice, but they can be powerful tools. About 75 percent of melanomas are initially detected by patients or other nonphysicians. Researchers hope that the findings will help improve patient literature and websites related to skin cancer.

The two main approaches to skin self-examination both offer visual cues. There’s the ABCDE method, which teaches patients the five defining features of skin cancer. Then there is the “ugly duckling” method: If one mole looks different than all the others, get it checked.

Pictures and illustrations are never a substitute for a doctor’s advice, but they can be a good step for early detection.