The existence of a mole on the skin surface may be a real zest, adding beauty and sexuality to a person’s looks. At the same time, living with multiple lesions of moles may become a real challenge resulting in low self esteem, diffidence, and depression due to the disappointment with the self appearance. So, what are the moles and how should we treat them: as good or evil, as beauty marks or curse leading to the serious health problems?
Moles on the skin surface are medicinally called melanocytic nevi. They are formed due to the abnormal, but usually harmless, growth of melanocytes (skin pigment cells) in groups instead of spreading equally in the skin forming its colour. The majority of moles appear during the childhood up to about 20 years of age. They are known as acquired nevi. Usually, a person has between 10 and 50 moles on the body. Some of them may form later in life, while a small number of moles are present already after birth. The latter are called congenital nevi.
The majority of moles are long-lasting lesions; though, some of them may disappear in the older age. Melanin cells, responsible for the moles formation, usually accumulate either in dermis, forming intradermal nevi, or in the epidermis, causing junctional moles. There are also compound nevi, which are located in both skin layers at the same time. Congenital nevi, which are usually larger than the acquired ones, extend to the deeper parts of dermis and often have hairs growing from them.
Junctional acquired nevi are usually small (from 1mm to 1cm in diameter), flat, and not palpable. They range in colour from brown to black. Intradermal moles may be skin-coloured or light brown. These can be defined by palpation for their rubbery texture. Compound moles are raised and papillomatous, being light brown or brownish-black in colour. One more specific type of moles is called halo nevi: these are normal moles surrounded by the discoloured patch of skin.
All the mentioned moles are either oval or round in shape with distinct even borders and even colour. However, there is one more type of moles, which differs from the other mentioned types. These are atypical or dysplastic nevi. They may vary in colour, shape and size, possessing the features of potentially dangerous or cancerous nevi (melanomas). They must be carefully examined by a doctor to evaluate their risks of turning into melanomas.
Atypical nevi are usually 5-15mm in diameter. They have uneven or cut edges (asymmetrical) and uneven colour (a mole can have dark center and light borders). Malignant melanomas also have these features; that is why dysplastic nevi may often be confused with cancerous moles.
By the way, any mole may be examined by a person at home according to the ABCDE symptoms chart: A – asymmetry; B – borders (ragged, irregular…); C – colour (uneven); D – diameter (larger than the size of a pencil eraser); E – evolving (changes of a mole). A mole should be examined by a doctor if it possesses any of the mentioned features.
It is said that a number, size, colour and type of moles a person has may be defined by his or her genetics inherited from parents. Similarly, predisposition to the problems with moles may be inherited as well.
It is also worthy of noting that statistically black and Asian people have a smaller number of moles in comparison to the fair-skinned persons. Excess of sunlight may also be the trigger of the moles appearance.
Congenital and dysplastic moles have a higher tendency towards turning into melanomas – skin cancer. The risks grow if a person has a family history (among the closest relatives) of skin cancer. However, any changes of the existing moles of other types should be treated seriously as well. Thus, it is recommended for a person to check the nevi on his body regularly and inform a doctor if any changes appear.
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