How does moles develop

Sun exposure may make freckles darker; freckles may fade completely in the winter. While moles may appear anywhere on the skin, freckles are ordinarily limited to sun exposed areas such as the face, neck, and upper back.

Blondes and redheads freckle most easily. After middle age, a person may acquire other dark areas that are not moles. Brown, wart-like growths that appear on the face or trunk and look as if they have been stuck onto the skin may be harmless growths called seborrheic keratoses.

Multiple small gray-brown spots that may appear on wrists, backs of the hands, forearms, and face are actinic lentigines. They are not cancers. Both actinic lentigines and seborrheic keratoses are easily diagnosed by a dermatologist. They will never be a threat to the health of the person. Spots or blemishes that warrant medical concern are those that do something out of the ordinary — those that act differently from other existing moles. This includes any spot that changes in size, shape, color, bleeds, itches, becomes painful, or moles that appear when a person is past twenty.

If you notice a mole that does not follow the normal patterns, a dermatologist may be able to assure you that the mole is harmless, or confirm that it is cancerous. He or she may remove the mole or part of it biopsy to study it under a microscope.

This is a simple and harmless procedure. If the growth was only partially removed and it is found to be cancerous, then the entire lesion and an extra margin of safety will need to be removed. A person may wish to get rid of moles that are irritating them, or simply because they are unattractive. The most common methods of removal include numbing and shaving the mole off, or cutting out the entire lesion and stitching the area closed.

Sometimes a mole will recur after it is removed. If a mole has been removed and begins to reappear, the patient should return to the dermatologist. Irritation will not cause a mole to become cancerous, but a person might want to have moles that are frequently shaved over removed because they are annoying. Some moles with hairs are considered unattractive.

Moles can also be excised cut out and stitched together to remove the mole and the hair. Moles may be made less noticeable if they are disguised with makeup. Cosmetics specifically designed to cover blemishes provide more complete coverage than ordinary cosmetics.

Dermatologists and other health-care professionals use the letters "ABCDE" as a guide when checking the skin for potentially harmful changes in existing or new moles.

If a mole has any of these characteristics, it should be examined more closely. Skip to main content. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Listen Focus. What is a mole? Healthy and benign moles. Signs and symptoms. How do moles affect the body? Benign moles A benign mole has the following three features. It is symmetrical — you can draw an imaginary line and divide it into two identical pieces.

It has a regular border — there is a clear difference between the colour of the mole and skin around it.

It has a uniform pigment — every area of the mole is the same colour. Causes, risk factors and prevalence. What causes moles to appear? Non-Caucasians have a lower risk for melanoma in general.

But the melanoma locations are different for people of color. Typical sites for melanoma among non-Caucasians are:. Note that self-checks can often miss changes in moles, according to a study of people at high risk for melanoma. Moles that appear in adulthood should always be checked by a doctor. If you have a mole that changes, especially one that meets one or more of the criteria in the ABCDE guide above, see a doctor right away.

The good news is that early detection of melanoma leads to significant survival benefits. The year survival rate for melanoma that is detected early is 93 percent. There are three main types of moles, also called nevi. Do you know which types you have? Get to know more about moles and why you should know yours…. Learn the causes behind an itchy mole and what you should do about it. Do you have a mole on your nose?

You don't need to worry about moles that bleed when they're injured. But moles that bleed or ooze fluid without being injured are cause for concern.

You can be born with moles and get new ones. Because they're so common, you might not give much thought to those on your skin until you have a painful…. It is not uncommon to find a mole on your baby.

Most moles are harmless. However, very large moles or moles that change in size, color, or shape need…. Moles can appear anywhere on your body, including your scalp. Learn about monitoring them as an early warning sign for skin cancer. Moles are skin growths that generally look like small, round brown spots. Can you use apple cider vinegar ACV to remove a mole? The answer is…. Surgically removing a mole, either for cosmetic reasons or because the mole is cancerous, will result in a scar.

In time, you may find it almost…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. What Causes Moles to Suddenly Appear.