Why Do Moles Grow Black Hair?

Moles are a common skin growth. The Mayo Clinic website says most people will develop between 10 and 40 moles in their lifetime, in a number of places on their body. Most moles occur before you reach age 20, but it is not uncommon for moles to develop later in life. If you develop any new moles after age 20, see your doctor to eliminate any underlying cause.

Appearance and Cause

Moles, medically known as nevi, are usually pink, tan or brown and can either be raised from the skin or flat. Nevi are usually round or oval. (See Reference 2) Not all moles will have hair, but it is considered normal. Moles develop because a cluster of cells group together with the skin tissue surrounding them. This unusual cell growth can encourage the hair follicle or follicles under the mole to grow excessively, Dawn Mernagh-Ward and Jennifer Cartwright say in the book "Health and Beauty Therapy -- A Practical Approach for NVQ Level 3."

Benefit

The hair in your mole may be a good sign, according to Dr. David J. Leffell, a professor of dermatology and surgery at Yale School of Medicine. The presence of hair in a mole that has been present since birth, also known as a congenital mole, is almost always a sign that the mole is benign, meaning non-cancerous.

Treatment

A hairy mole does not necessarily require treatment, unless it is unsightly or possibly cancerous. A doctor can remove the entire mole, by shaving it off, if it is small enough, or by surgically removing it and stitching the skin. Both procedures will usually leave a small scar. If you don't mind the mole itself and are only concerned with the hair, use small scissors to trim the hair or pluck it out.

Misconceptions

An old wives' tale holds that by plucking a hair, it will grow back thicker or more will grow back in its place. This is not true. Only one hair can grow from a single follicle so plucking will not encourage extra hairs. Hair will only appear thicker if it is shaved off, but in reality this is an illusion caused by blunting the tip of the hair.

Warning

If you notice any change in a mole, see a doctor immediately. The National Cancer Institute advises checking regularly for any differences in color, shape, size, outline or "feel" of the mole. If you develop any new black moles or unsightly moles, have a doctor check them.