Moles: Causes & Treatments

Small skin lesions are known as moles. Melanocytes comprise up this group. Melanin is produced by melanocytes. It is the pigment that gives skin its color, melanin.

The majority of moles are brown, although some can be significantly darker or even skin-toned. In addition to being flat or raised, they can also be rough or have hair sprouting from them. Edges are normally smooth, and they are often round or oval in shape.

The appearance and quantity of moles can change. There are times when they fade away or go away completely. Hormonal changes, such as those that occur during pregnancy, adolescence, and old age, can affect some moles. Pregnancy darkens and fades them, and they tend to increase in frequency as people get older.

moles causes treatments

While most moles occur in the first 20-30 years of a person’s life, some may be present when the newborn is born. Melanocytic nevi that develop after birth are called postnatal melanocytic nevi. In general, dark-skinned people have fewer moles than light-skinned ones.

Diagnosis of Moles

You can identify them in the following ways:

  • Skin-fold examination
  • The Melanoma ABCDE Protocol
  • Sometimes biopsy

A mole’s normal appearance is generally enough to identify it. They have regular borders and are symmetrical, circular or oval. They don’t itch or pain, and they aren’t cancerous in any way. 

There have been cases where moles have turned into or resembled malignant melanoma. A mole that appears suspicious should be removed and studied under a microscope, as many melanomas have their origins in moles (biopsy).

What Are Changes in Mole Shapes

Changes in a mole, known as the ABCDEs, may indicate that a mole is cancerous.

  • A: Asymmetry—the illusion of being asymmetric in shape (that is, one half does not look the same as the other half)
  • B: Borders that aren’t regular (that is, borders are blurred or jagged, not well-defined and smooth)
  • C: Color—color adjustments within the mole, unusual colors, or a color widely differing or darker than the person’s other moles
  • D: Diameter—more than ¼ inch (about 6 millimeters) broad, about the size among most pencil erasers
  • E: Evolution—a new mole in a person over age 30 or a changing mole

An excisional biopsy may be done on a mole that has grown inflamed and itchy, has started bleeding, has developed broken skin or shows any other indications of melanoma. Additional surgery may be required if a mole turns out to be malignant.

Complications

The most common consequence of moles is melanoma. Some persons are more susceptible to acquiring melanoma from their moles than others. Melanoma risk factors include the following:

  • Being born with large moles. Congenital nevi are the most common form of mole. A mole is considered huge on an infant if it measures more than 5 cm in diameter. A malignant mole, no matter how huge, is extremely rare.
  • Having unusual moles. Atypical (dysplastic) nevi are big and irregularly shaped moles. Families tend to have a genetic predisposition for them.
  • Having many moles. Over 50 moles indicates an increased chance of skin cancer, and perhaps breast cancer.
  • Having a history of melanoma in one’s family. If you’ve had melanoma in the past, you’re more likely to have a cancerous mole in the future. Melanoma can also be genetically transmitted through some types of atypical necrosis.

Treatment

There’s usually no need to see a dermatologist for a mole to be removed. In some cases, a second visit is required to ensure that all of the moles have been removed.

Removing a mole can be accomplished through the use of two different surgical techniques:

  • Freezing. A little amount of liquid nitrogen is used in this treatment to remove a noncancerous mole.
  • Burning. Electric current is used to remove the outer layers of a noncancerous mole in this technique. The excision of the mole may necessitate more than one session.
  • Shaving. The mole is shaved from the skin’s surface with a surgical blade in this treatment.
  • Excision. The mole is completely removed and the skin is stitched back together after this treatment. The most common reason for undergoing this procedure is to eradicate malignant moles.

Prevention

The risk of melanoma, the most serious side effect of untreated moles, can be reduced by taking the following steps.

1.Keep an eye out for changes

Find out where and when your moles appear. Keep an eye out for changes in your skin that could indicate the presence of melanoma. Once a month, perform a skin examination on yourself. Head-to-toe checks should be performed with the aid of mirrors and should cover your scalp, hands and fingernails as well as your armpits, chest, legs and feet. Inspect the vaginal region and the region in between the buttocks as well.

2.Consult a doctor

Get a skin inspection from your online skin specialist if you’re concerned about your risk factors for skin cancer.

3.Take care of your skin

Protect your skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, such as those emitted by the sun or from tanning salons. Melanoma risk increases with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. And moles are more common in children who have not been adequately shielded from the sun’s rays.

4.Stay away from sun

When the sun is at its brightest, stay out of the sun. Around 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the sun is at its most intense across much of North America. Even on overcast days or in the winter, try to schedule outdoor activities at various times of the day. Avoid the sun’s harmful rays by hiding in the shade or using a sun-blocking umbrella.

5.Apply sunscreen

You should always use sunscreen. Apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before heading outdoors, especially on cloudy days. Protect your skin with an SPF of at least 15 whenever possible. 

Apply liberally and reapply every two hours, or more frequently if you’re exercising or swimming. Sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 is recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology for broad-spectrum and water-resistant protection.

Protection from harmful UV radiation can be achieved by wearing sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, long sleeves, and other clothes. Consider wearing clothing made from fabric that has been treated to prevent UV radiation as an additional option.

6.Avoid UV lamps

According to Marham avoid using lamps and beds that emit UV rays. Exposure to UV radiation from tanning lamps and beds raises the risk of skin cancer.

Conclusion

Size, color, form, and surface roughness all vary widely among common moles, dysplastic nevi, and melanoma.

An abnormal mole or one that is new or changing should be examined by a dermatologist, who will determine if the mole should be surgically removed. Melanoma is not prevented by removing all of the atypical moles on one’s body.

FAQs

1.What causes moles to suddenly grow?

Moles, which are medically referred to as nevi, usually develop in adolescence and young adulthood, but new moles can arise at any time. In adults, new moles or changes to existing moles can indicate melanoma; this is true even if most moles are noncancerous or benign.

2.What deficiency causes moles?

Serum Vitamin D levels, solar exposure, and Vitamin D intake have not been conclusively linked to health benefits. The danger of Vitamin D insufficiency may be increased if you avoid all sunshine exposure because you are light-sensitive or because you want to lower your chance of developing skin cancer.

3.Do moles ever go away?

As we get older, moles tend to diminish or disappear. This is not a cause of concern usually. Cancerous moles, on the other hand, can shrink or even disappear. When skin cancer is present and has spread to other parts of the body, it is possible to experience this.