Moles are quite common and can occur anywhere on the skin. They may be single or appear in groups and are dark in color. Early childhood through age twenty is the time when most moles are discovered. Having up to 40 moles by the time a person is an adult is nothing unusual. Fortunately, most moles are benign. Concern over the presence of moles on the skin is mainly an issue of appearance for most persons.
By most definitions, a mole is a group of cells that grow in a group rather than being spread over the skin. The cells are melanocytes. These cells generate pigments that add color to skin. With exposure to the sun, moles may darken. Hormonal effects during pregnancy may also cause moles to darken. Moles are different than other skin abnormalities. Skin tags, warts and freckles are not the same as moles.
Moles can appear anywhere on the skin. Moles on the face might be referred to as beauty marks and you’ll some celebrities who capitalize on having them. Areas that are exposed to the sun are more likely to have mole growth. Moles are usually found on the hands, arms, chest, neck, face, back, and ears.
Moles that look different and moles that change color, size, shape, height or condition are suspicious. Many moles are hereditary and passed from generation to generation in genes. These inherited moles are atypical (dysplastic) nevi. They may be larger than average and have irregular shapes or color. These atypical moles are most likely to develop into melanoma skin cancer.
A mole may be removed for cosmetic reasons or for examination. Our doctors may remove an entire mole or a segment for examination or biopsy. If the mole is cancerous, the entire mole should be cut out and the wound closed. Cosmetic removal of moles is a simple procedure done under a local anesthetic in the doctor’s office.