Different Moles Indicate Different Conditions

Moles are growths on the skin that may be a little darker in color compared to the skin pigment. They come about as a result of skin cells (known as melanocytes) clustering together as they develop, instead of spreading evenly on the skin. They are a common occurrence in some families since they can be passed on from parents to children. Most moles are harmless and may even stop growing and not cause much difference.

Some moles may spell bad news though. Atypical moles (dysplastic nevi) are an example. They are comprised of many moles (nevi) that are irregularly shaped. The size, color and location may vary but they will be larger than your everyday mole. The color is usually uneven but with a dark brown center and edges that are lighter and uneven. Most people with such moles have more than 20 of them and some have as high as 100 moles.

These are however not termed as cancerous moles (though someone who has a large number of atypical moles is more prone to get melanoma, which is cancer of the skin). But, any changes that occur to them should be carefully noted and reported to a doctor. Melanoma occurs on the skin but may also spread to other parts near the skin and through the blood to other body organs.

Other features of cancerous moles

Even if a mole is not irregularly shaped it does not mean that there is no risk of it being cancerous. Be on the lookout for an itchy mole. These will have you constantly scratching even when you feel there is no specific trigger.

Sometimes you may have a painful mole. It may just become tender of its own accord and the pain may be easy to ignore at first. The solution you settle for may be to take some pain medication but you need to get it checked by a doctor.

A bleeding mole should not be ignored as well. Even as you wipe the blood figure out how you will contact your doctor because that is not good.

Cancerous moles may occur at any age but doctors are more concerned with those that appear after the age of 30. A mole that looks different or behaves differently like a bleeding mole, painful mole or an itchy mole should be checked. If a mole was always of a normal shape and size and then changes begin to occur to it like a deepening of the color, a change in size, height or shape you should see your doctor.

For you to see the changes you will have to monitor your moles. You can use a mirror or ask someone to help you look at areas out of your visual range. Those areas that see the sun a lot should get more attention.

Some people just prefer to avoid the trouble of going through their moles every so often so they want them removed. A mole can get removed by a dermatologist for cosmetic reasons as well and not just medical ones. So have a chat with yours if you so desire.