Moles are common, usually benign growths on the skin, generally of the color black or brown. You may see moles in any area of the body, sometimes in groups and sometimes alone. Most moles will appear in your early childhood years, and/or during the first twenty years of your life. A few moles won't appear until later on in your life. Average people have at least a few moles before they reach adulthood. As the years go by, moles generally go through slow changes.
They may change color and/or become raised. Sometimes hairs will grow on a mole. Some moles remain virtually the same throughout your life, and others may disappear as you age. Causes: Moles are caused by cells in the skin growing together in clusters, instead of being spread around the skin. These cells, which are called melanocytes, make the pigment that gives your skin whatever its natural color is. Moles sometimes darken after you expose them to the sun, during your teen-age years, and during the months of pregnancy.
There are various types of common moles, described by the time they appear, and sometimes by their size or appearance. Congenital nevi refer to those that appear at the time of birth. About one percent of people have this type of moles. Moles that are developed at birth have a better chance of developing into melanoma (skin cancer) than moles that appear later. A freckle or mole should always be checked, if it changes size or appearance, to make sure that it hasn't developed into cancer. Dysplastic nevi are larger than average-sized moles, generally meaning that they are wider than the eraser on a pencil. Their shape is irregular, and they tend to be overall uneven in color, with light, uneven edges and darker brown centers. These moles are usually hereditary.
People who have this type of moles often have over 100 moles on their body, and these have a higher than normal rate of development into skin cancer. Treatment: Most moles, however, aren't dangerous. The only moles you should worry about are those that are different from the other moles you have, or those that don't appear until after you turn twenty years of age. Any change in a mole's shape, size, height or color should warn you to call your dermatologist to evaluate it. Also, have moles checked if they become painful or tender, or if they begin to appear scaly, itch, ooze or bleed. You can examine your own skin with a mirror, or have someone help you.
Pay close attention to any area of your body that is often exposed to the sun, like ears, face, neck, chest, arms and hands. If, over time, your moles don't change, there isn't much real reason for concern. If you want to have a mole removed for aesthetic reasons, you can speak with your dermatologist about that. If your dermatologist thinks that you have a mole that he or she should evaluate more fully, or remove, that doctor will simply remove the entire mole, or take a skin tissue sample to be examined under a microscope. This biopsy is a simple procedure, and cutting into the mole will not cause cancer to spread, if it is found that this mole is cancerous. If your mole is cancerous after the dermatologist does the biopsy, he or she will remove the rest of the mole by cutting it out, along with a small ring of skin around it that's normal. Then he or she will stitch the wound closed. There is no way known to prevent moles you are born with, but you can avoid potentially dangerous changes in moles and the appearance of more, by staying out of the sun, or protecting yourself against it with a good sunscreen.
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