When to be Concerned About a Mole?

“I have always heard that I should be worried about the moles that are on my skin, but should I really be concerned about the moles on my skin?”

“Why do I even have them? Are moles normal to have?”

“What can I do about them anyway?”

These, and many more, are questions that we hear on a daily basis from our clients here at Divine Dermatology and we want to share with you the responses that we provide to our clients.

What is a mole?

A mole is a growth of skin cells that have grown in a cluster instead of throughout the skin that appear as either brown or black. This group of skin cells that cause moles are the result of genetics and/or being out in the sun and it is common to have 10-40 moles by the time you are an adult. Moles can occur individually or in a group anywhere on your body. As you grow older moles can change and while most are harmless, others can be cancerous and potentially deadly.

What does a normal mole look like?

Moles come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes anywhere on your body. Normal moles may be flat to the skin or raised from the skin and either brown or skin-colored. They are as small as a pinhead to the size of a pencil eraser with a defined outline, even shape, and the same color. Normal moles may get slightly darker with age but don’t change size or become uneven in shape and/or color.

What are non-cancerous types of moles?

The majority of moles that people have on their body are non-cancerous but they don’t all look the same. Non-cancerous moles are categorized in three main areas:

Congenital moles are present at birth in 1 out of 100 people and can be very small to quite large. If a congenital mole is larger than 20mm it has a significantly increased risk of turning into skin cancer.

Acquired moles (common moles) develop after birth and are the most common type of mole. They are usually smaller than a pencil eraser, have even coloring, and typically don’t develop into skin cancer. If someone has more than 50 common moles there is an increased risk of skin cancer.

Atypical moles (dysplastic nevi) are irregular in shape, uneven in coloring and appear later in childhood into adulthood. Atypical moles have a genetic basis and are the ones that should cause concern. The more atypical moles you have, the higher your risk of skin cancer.

What are the types of cancerous moles?

There are many different types of skin cancer, and not all skin cancer is the result of moles, but the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma, is most often found in moles. The good news is that skin cancers, even melanoma, are easily treated if detected early.

When to see a doctor about your mole?

There is a good chance that you don’t notice your moles anymore after living with them for so long, but you need to pay attention to them to see if they are changing, and if so, how they are changing. You need to call your dermatologist if you notice any of the ABDCEs.

A: Asymmetry If one half of the moles doesn’t look like the other half of the mole, contact your dermatologist.

B: Border A non-cancerous mole will have an even border, but if your mole has an uneven or scalloped border contact your dermatologist. The mole may also have blurry edges or an odd shape.

C: Color Most normal moles vary in color, but each mole is a single color. If your mole has multiple shades of brown, red, blue, black, or white contact your dermatologist.

D: Diameter Moles that are more than ¼ of an inch in diameter (about the size of a pencil eraser) have a greater chance of being cancerous.

E: Evolving Moles should not change over time, so if your mole changes its size, shape, or color you need to contact your dermatologist because it could be a sign of skin cancer. Evolving moles are the biggest red flag as a sign for skin cancer.

What are the risk factors for skin cancer?

Moles aren’t the only risk factor when it comes to skin cancer. Some of the risk factors are genetically related: if you have fair skin, burn easily, have freckles, are blonde or red headed, and/or have blue or green eyes you are at a higher risk for skin cancer. If you have a blood-related family member who has had skin cancer you are at a higher risk of skin cancer. Not all risk factors are genetic. If you have spent time in tanning beds, exposed to the sun, or a history of severe sunburns, you are at a higher risk for skin cancer.

Divine Dermatology is committed to your long-term skin care health by combining a wealth of medical knowledge and compassion. We want to hear your concerns and will take all the time needed to address those concerns for an accurate diagnosis. We have the tools and the experience to create a treatment plan to deal with any issue that you may have. If you have questions, or would like to get in contact with us, call us at 970.399.7744 in the Fort Collins, Loveland, and Longmont areas. You can also contact us online.