Benign moles have the potential to develop into a pop in of skin cancer called melanoma.
Moles are benign tumors formed frommelanocytes(cells in the skin that make the pigment melanin).
Moles come in various shapes, sizes, and colors.
Illustration by Joules Garcia for Verywell Health
They can appear in a range of colors, shapes, and sizes.
Skin moles fall under three types: common nevus, spitz nevus, and atypical (dysplastic) nevus.
They may be present at birth (congenital) or develop later (acquired).
Heather L. Brannon, MD
Common moles have the following characteristics:
Spitz neviare benign moles that resemble melanoma.
Spitz nevi usually have a uniform pink, red, tan, blue, or black color.
They are most common on the face, neck, and legs.
Heather L. Brannon, MD
Do Benign Moles Ever Disappear?
During later adulthood, moles often lose their pigmentation and may fade away with advancing age.
Normally, these changes happen very slowly.
Heather L. Brannon, MD
Flat Mole
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Heather L. Brannon, MD
Themolesin this picture are completely benign.
Flat moles like this, especially if they have recently developed, can have color variations throughout.
Heather L. Brannon, MD
Mature Mole
This is a mature mole because the skin surrounding it has wrinkles throughout.
The mole itself has been present for many years.
This mole has all the features of benign moles.
Heather L. Brannon, MD
As noted, one of the typical features of benign moles is that they have a consistent color throughout.
This mole, however, is flesh-colored on the perimeter and brown in the center.
Raised Mole
This is a great example of a benign mole.
Heather L. Brannon, MD
Even though it’s raised, it has a very consistent color throughout and well-defined border.
These would be reasons that an insurance company would typically pay to have this mole removed.
Sometimes a mole can be difficult to distinguish from aseborrheic keratosis, also known as a skin barnacle.
Heather L. Brannon, MD
Those rarely become cancerous, but if they do, they are associated with basal cell carcinomas.
Sometimes they itch and get irritated with vigorous scratching.
This will cause changes in the mole’s appearance.
Heather L. Brannon, MD
Just because a lesion is raised doesn’t mean that it’s skin cancer.
Your healthcare provider or dermatologist will want to conduct tests to ensure that you don’t have melanoma.
What Does an Atypical Mole Look Like?
Atypical moles are irregularly shaped and can be scaly or have a slightly pebbled surface.
The acronymABCDEis a guide used for identifying melanoma.
The Skin Cancer Foundation is among the organizations that endorse once-yearly skin exams.
Summary
Moles come in various shapes, sizes, and colors.
Atypical moles tend to be larger, flat, and have a mixture of several different colors.
The ABCDE guide is a useful tool to identify abnormal moles.
Regular exams are important for those with more moles.
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Spitz Nevus.
AIM at Melanoma Foundation.Moles - Moles or Melanoma?
Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol.
American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of melanoma skin cancer.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.What to look for: ABCDEs of melanoma.
National Cancer Institute.Common Moles, Dysplastic Nevi, and Risk of Melanoma - What is a common mole?
Skin Cancer Foundation.Annual Exams: Five Easy Steps to Prepare Yourself.
