Moles

What are moles?

Moles (or nevi) ore common growths on your skin. Moles contain clusters of cells that contain the pigment melanin, which gives your skin its color. Moles can be present at birth but you can continually develop moles through childhood and adulthood. If you have a lot of sun exposure, you tend to develop more moles than those who are not exposed to the sun as much. Moles are usually painless, and doesn't cause any itching, but if it is in a location that gets rubbed or shaved, it may become irritated or bleed. 

Some moles can change into a type of skin cancer called melanoma. These, called atypical or dysplastic nevi, are larger than most acquired moles, have irregular borders, and can occur in a mixture of colors. Your risk for melanoma is increased if one of your close relatives has had melanoma or if you have a large number of moles (more than 50) and several of them are atypical nevi.

Since there is no sure way to predict which moles on your body might become cancerous, it is important for you to check your moles regularly. Contact your doctor if you  notice that your mole does the following:

• Is growing
• Is rapidly changing in height (for example, a mole that was flat now develops into a domelike shape).
• Develops a scaly surface, erodes, or oozes fluid. A mole that breaks open (ulcerates, bleeds, or develops a crusty surface may be a more advanced melanoma
• Itches or becomes tender or painful
• Feels hard, lumpy, or swollen

How Are Moles Treated?

A benign mole usually doesn't need any type of treatment. If the mole looks irregular, your doctor will recommend that you have it removed to make sure there are no abnormal or cancerous cells in the mole. 

What Can I do about hair growing out of a mole?

Sometimes hair will grow out of a mole. You can remove the hair by:

• Plucking it out
• Clipping it with small scissors
• Gently shaving it off (shave the hair, not the mole)
• Getting electrolysis to permanently remove the hair
• Having the entire mole removed

The information presented on this web site, and any related links, is provided for general information and educational purposes only and are the opinions of Dr. Diana Dang. Consult with your physician or health care provider for any specific medical conditions or concerns that you have. (This also applies to patients in Dr. Dang's medical practice; the information here is not a substitute for, or an extension of, the medical care they provide for you.) Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read here. Use the information and products on this site at your own risk. Use of this site indicates your agreement with these statements and the Terms and Conditions of El Centro Dermatology & Laser Center. If you do not agree to all of these Terms and Conditions of use, please do not use this site!