A mole is a small, darkly pigmented growth on the skin with a high concentration of melanin which is responsible for their dark colour.
Moles can appear anywhere on the skin, alone or in groups. Their colours can range from light brown to red, blue, dark brown, gray and even black. They may be flat, slightly raised, smooth, rough and may contain dark hairs.
Most children are born with moles, and almost everyone has at least one or two moles on their bodies, some more than others. Sometimes people want a mole removed for cosmetic reasons – because of its visibility on the face or obvious part of the body.
However if If you have a mole that is asymmetrical, changes shape quickly or bleeds, chances are your doctor will want it removed for it to be tested.
Moles are most often of no medical consequence, however many skin cancers, including melanoma begin in the shape of a mole. The entire mole and it’s root must be removed so that it does not grow back.
Types of Moles
- Congenital Nevi – are moles that are present at birth.
- Acquired Nevi- are moles that appear during childhood or in early adult life, possibly caused by sun exposure, pregnancy or certain steroid drugs.
- Atypical Nevi- also referred to as dysplastic nevi or Clark’s nevi, are acquired moles that are usually larger than common moles, with irregular and indistinct borders, often with a variety of colors. While atypical moles are considered to be potential risks of melanoma, most of them actually never become cancerous.
Whether your moles make you worried about your health or if they make you frown when you look in the mirror, please call us to discuss how we can help.
