Moles

What are moles?  Moles are raised pigmented areas of the skin.  They can appear anywhere on the skin and are usually brown in color.  Moles vary in size and coloration.

Sun exposure increases the number of moles a person may develop.  Most moles appear before the age of 20.  The majority of moles and benign (not cancer) and will never need to be treated.

Not all moles look alike.  They can be skin colored, pink, light tan, brown or even blue-black.

There are different types of moles.  Studies have shown that certain types of moles have a higher than average risk of turning cancerous. 

  • Some may develop into malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer.  Sunburns increase the risk of melanoma.  People with many more moles than average (more than 100) are also more at risk of melanoma.

  • Congenital nevi, moles that are present a birth, may also be more likely to develop into melanoma than moles that appear after birth. 

  • Moles known as dysplastic nevi or atypical moles are larger than average and irregular in shape.  These moles tend to have uneven color with dark brown centers and lighter, sometimes reddish, uneven borders or black dots at the edge.  Persons with dysplastic nevi may have a greater than average chance of developing malignant melanoma.

Recognizing the early warning of malignant melanoma is essential.  Knowing the ABCD's of melanoma when examining moles is important.   

  1. Asymmetry - when one half of the mole doesn't match the other half

  2. Border - when the border or edges of the mole are ragged, blurred or irregular.

  3. Color - when the color of the mole is not the same throughout or if it has shades of tan, brown, black, red, white or blue.

  4. Diameter - when the diameter of a mole is larger than 6mm (about the size of pencil eraser).

It is best to contact your dermatologist if you notice a mole that does not follow a normal pattern.  A dermatologist will be able to determine if the mole is harmless or may need further study.

For more information on moles, please click on the following link:
http://www.aad.org/pamphlets

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