Moles are the result of skin cells growing in a cluster instead of spreading throughout the skin. Because they are skin cells, they produce pigmentation and darken during teen years, after exposure to the sun and during pregnancy. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it is normal for a person to have 10 to 40 moles by the time they reach adulthood. Most of the time, moles are nothing to worry about, but occasionally there can be problems.
Cosmetic
Moles can occur anywhere on the skin. Sometimes they develop on areas of the skin that are often exposed, such as the face, neck, shoulders, chest or arms. Sometimes they are inconveniently placed and getting constantly snagged on clothing. This can be painful or make you self-conscious. In these cases, a mole can be removed either through shave excision or excisional surgery, typically performed in the dermatologist’s office.
Large or Numerous Moles
According to the Mayo Clinic, moles larger than a quarter inch and irregular in shape tend to be hereditary. They usually have dark centers and lighter, uneven borders that are often described as looking like a fried egg. Unfortunately, these moles mean there is a greater risk of developing malignant melanoma or skin cancer. People born with large moles at birth may have an increased risk of malignant melanoma, skin cancer. Having more than twenty moles also means you are at greater risk of skin cancer.
ABCDEs
There are specific signs that a mole may be cancerous. ABCDE is a mnemonic device that helps you learn the signs that a mole may be malignant and should be monitored by a dermatologist. Malignant melanoma can be deadly, and as with all cancers, chances of effective treatment are better the earlier it is detected. The ABCDEs are: asymmetry, or if the mole was divided in half one side wouldn't match the other; border, or it has ragged, blurred or irregular edges; color, or the color of the mole is not consistent and has varying shades of colors such as tan, brown, black, blue, white or red; diameter, or large moles can be an indication of risk, specifically, moles larger than a pencil eraser should be monitored; and elevation or evolution, which refers to the mole appearing elevated from the skin or changing over time.
Other Mole Problems
A mole should be looked at if it develops over the age of twenty. Other complications that indicate a mole should be monitored: it is painful, itchy, burning, oozing, bleeding, scaly or crusty. It could be the mole was just irritated, or it could be another sign that it has become malignant.
References
- Cleveland Clinic: Moles, Freckles, Skin Tags, Benign Lentigines, and Seborrheic Keratoses
- MayoClinic.com: Diseases & Conditions: Moles: Basics: Definition
- MayoClinic.com: Diseases & Conditions: Moles: Basics: Symptoms
- MayoClinic.com: Diseases & Conditions: Moles: Basics: Treatments & Drugs
- MayoClinic.com: Diseases & Conditions: Moles: Basics: Complications
