Moles (cont.)
Gary W. Cole, MD, FAAD
Dr. Cole is board certified in dermatology. He obtained his BA degree in bacteriology, his MA degree in microbiology, and his MD at the University of California, Los Angeles. He trained in dermatology at the University of Oregon, where he completed his residency.
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
In this Article
- Moles facts
- What are moles?
- What causes moles, and what are risk factors for developing moles?
- What types of moles are there?
- What are liver spots or age spots?
- What are seborrheic keratoses?
- Who is more prone to getting moles?
- Does having more moles increase my chance of getting melanoma?
- Do moles ever disappear spontaneously?
- Which skin cancers look like moles?
- How can moles be prevented?
- How can moles be treated? What are different types of mole removal?
- Is there a blood test or X-ray to diagnose moles?
- Find a local Doctor in your town
Who is more prone to getting moles?
Inadequately pigmented people who live in sunny climates who do not practice sun avoidance are likely to have more pigmented nevi. A mole is essentially nothing more than a mass of nested melanocytes at one spot in the skin.
Does having more moles increase my chance of getting melanoma?
Yes. The total number of irregular moles on your body is one of the strongest indicators for the risk of developing a malignant melanoma. There is also a direct relationship between the number of innocent moles on the skin and the chance of developing an abnormal or changing mole. The more moles you have, the greater the risk of developing atypical moles and potentially melanoma.
Do moles ever disappear spontaneously?
Yes. In rare cases, some moles may lighten or completely disappear later in life. In some cases, this is the result of the body's immune system attacking the mole and causing it to regress. One example of this is a "halo nevus." The presence of this phenomenon does not necessarily signal the presence of cancer. The nevus involved needs to be evaluated on its own merits, exclusive of the presence of the halo.
Is it dangerous if my mole is getting bigger? Should I remove all of my moles?
New or enlarging moles may be concerning and should be promptly evaluated by your dermatologist. While moles may increase in size, particularly before the age of 20, regular moles are unlikely to enlarge as people get older. A mole that has increased in size is not necessarily cancerous. Enlargement alone does not necessarily mean a mole is malignant. Some regular moles may increase in size and darken in pregnancy. Often, a simple mole biopsy by your doctor can help determine if a mole is irregular.
Regular moles pose essentially little to no health risk. It is not necessary to remove all of your moles. Most moles are not cancerous and generally do not become cancerous. However, moles that are changing, growing, new, symptomatic, bleeding, or otherwise worrisome to your physician or dermatologist may need to be removed and examined by a pathologist under the microscope. Periodic monitoring and medical evaluation of moles is important to help determine which moles need to be removed. If you have a personal or family history of melanoma, even greater attention should be paid to your moles with a lower threshold for biopsy of irregular moles.
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