Moles: When To Be Worried

We've all got moles. They can be present at birth or develop later on, can be tan, pink, or brown, and can appear all over the body in various shapes and sizes. Most moles are completely normal. So how do you know if your mole is something to be worried about? What does melanoma look like? When should you see your doctor about a mole?

Common Moles

Common moles develop when pigment cells — melanocytes — grow very closely together in clusters. The Latin name for a common mole is nevus, or nevi for plural. Common moles may be present at birth, but they usually develop later in in childhood and adulthood.

The following are characteristics of common moles:

• They usually have a diameter of less than 5 mm
• Their shape is round or oval
• Common moles have clear edges 
• They may be slightly raised
• Tan, pink, and brown are the usual colors — the darker a person's skin tone, the darker their moles are likely to be

Common moles can appear during childhood or adulthood, and noticing a new mole is not necessarily a reason to panic. It is, however, a good idea to inspect your body for new moles regularly and to keep an eye on your existing moles. Ask your partner or a friend to check in places you cannot see yourself, such as on your back. 

When To See Your Doctor About A Mole

Common moles can turn into melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer, but this happens only very rarely. People who have a very large number of moles (over 50) do have a higher risk of developing melanoma, and they should keep an extra careful eye on their moles. 

See your doctor if any moles you have change color, shape, or texture. Moles that evenly get bigger are usually not a reason for worry, and this commonly happens in children. When a mole grows bigger or becomes smaller (yes, that can happen too) unevenly, that is a reason to get it checked out. Moles should also been seen by a doctor if the skin on their surface is dry or scaly, or starts to itch, bleed or ooze other fluids. If your mole becomes hard or has a lumpy appearance, it is also time to make an appointment with your doctor. 

See Also: Mole removal

Dysplastic nevi tend to be bigger (larger than 5mm), have a more unusual appearance, and may not have clear borders like common moles. They may be made up of several different colors, and tend to appear in areas that aren't exposed to the sun (very frequently), like below the waist or on the scalp.

Dysplastic nevi can turn into melanoma, but once again that's not something that happens often. They do come with a higher risk of melanoma than common moles, which is reason enough to follow them more closely. People who have five or more atypical moles are said to have 10 times the risk of developing melanoma than those who don't have any.

Atypical Moles And Melanoma

Getting Your Dysplastic Nevus Examined

Have you got a "weird-looking mole" that you are worried about? It's most likely to be a dysplastic nevus. Do make an appointment to get it checked out. You can call your family doctor, who may examine your mole and decide whether to refer you to a dermatologist or not, or you can go straight to a dermatologist.

Your healthcare provider will examine the mole. If you have five or more dysplastic nevi, they are likely to recommend regular (twice-yearly) checkups. Pictures of the moles can make any changes that occur over time easier to spot. Not all atypical moles need to be removed. Only those that change over time and those that are "fresh" are picked out for removal, because those have the highest risk of turning into melanoma. 

Is It Melanoma?

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that starts in the pigment cells or melanocytes. Melanoma can spread to other organs, like the lungs, liver, brain and bones, after which it can become fatal. Many people are extremely worried about melanoma, due to media coverage of this type of skin cancer. 

Discovering a strange-looking mole can be terrifying, and you might think you've got melanoma immediately. While this type of panic is not nice to experience and your fear will usually turn out to be for nothing, it does serve a purpose. The earlier melanoma is spotted, the higher the chance of successful treatment. 

See Also: Interferon As Adjuvant Therapy For Malignant Melanoma

What are the characteristics of melanoma?

• In women, melanoma is most likely to appear on the lower legs or back. In men, melanoma usually appears on the head, neck, or back.
• People with darker skin have a lower risk of melanoma. When they do get it, it may be found under the nails, on the palms of the hands, or on foot soles. 
• You'll look out for asymmetry, irregular borders, multiple colors, and a larger diameter.
• Melanoma changes over time. Any existing mole that changes or new colored area on the skin should be examined. 

A biopsy is the only way to know for sure if you have melanoma. After a small sample is removed from the area, its cells will be tested in a lab.  It can be hard for lay people to tell the difference between melanoma and a dysplastic nevus.