Moles, or nevi, are skin growths that mostly appear on the face, arms, legs and torso. Moles are caused by pigmented skin cells, or melanocytes, growing in clusters. They can appear alone or in groups and are usually brown or black in color. They can be raised, flat, smooth or rough in appearance. Facial moles are determined before birth. Their color and appearance can change over time or they can disappear altogether. Most facial moles are harmless, but moles that appear on the face after age 50 can become cancerous.
History
Facial moles have been looked at in different ways throughout history. Before the 16th century they were thought of as ugly growths that appeared only on people with evil characteristics. During Medieval times, people with facial moles were accused of being possessed by the devil. The mole was considered the entry point of the devil into the soul. During the 16th century, Richard Sanders invented a theory that every facial mole had a corresponding birthmark on the body. If you knew where both moles were, you could tell what that person was like.
Classification
There are three classifications of moles: congenital nevi, dyplastic nevi and acquired nevi. Congenital nevi are moles that appear at birth. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, "About one in 100 people is born with one or more moles." Their sizes range from small to large and the large moles have a higher risk for developing cancer. Dyplastic nevi or atypical moles are hereditary. They are large with uneven color and shape. These moles have a high risk of developing cancer. Acquired nevi appear after birth. If they appear during childhood and early adulthood, they are usually from sun damage.
Types
Skin tags are flesh-colored moles. They protrude from the skin and are small in size. Raised moles run deep into the skin and are slightly raised from the skin. They appear in a variety of colors. Flat moles are dark and do not protrude from the skin.
Diagnosis
If you have a mole on the face, you should keep a close eye on it.. Examine it at least once a month to check for any sign of cancer by looking for a change in the mole's color or appearance. The rule of mole examination is called the ABCDEs. A is for asymmetry--look for one half of the mole not matching the other half. B is for border--look for a ragged, irregular or blurred border. C is for color--look for different colors of tan, brown, blue, white, red or black. D is for diameter--check if the diameter is larger than a pencil eraser. E is for evolving--check to see if the mole is changing in size, color or shape. Pay close attention to your moles if you are pregnant or menopausal. If you have a mole that bleeds, itches, oozes, is tender or appears scaly, consult a doctor right away. If your doctor suspects that a mole is cancerous, he will take a tissue sample to find out.
Treatment
If you have a mole that is cancerous or you want to remove it for cosmetic reasons, there are couple of ways to do it. You can have the mole removed by shave excision or excisional surgery. The shave excision procedure is used for smaller moles and does not require sutures. The mole is removed using a small blade to cut around and beneath the mole. During excisional surgery, the mole and surrounding skin is removed with a scalpel and sutures are used to close the skin afterward.
