
Most moles are benign (non cancerous) and appear during the first 20 years of a person's life. The only moles that are of medical concern are those that look different from other existing moles or those that first appear after age 20. Changes in a mole's color, height, size, or shape should be evaluated by a dermatologist. You also should have moles checked if they bleed, ooze, itch, appear scaly, or become tender or painful.
The Cleveland Clinic suggests following an A-B-C-D-E checklist for determining if moles may be cancerous:
Asymmetry - Each half of the mole should match the other.
Border - The edges should not be irregular or ragged.
Color - The tint should be the same throughout.
Diameter - Should not be greater than the size of pencil eraser.
Elevation - Should not become elevated or raised from the skin over time.
If a dermatologist believes the mole needs to be evaluated further, he or she will first take a biopsy (small tissue sample of the mole) to examine thin sections of the tissue under a microscope. Cutting through the mole to acquire the sample will not cause the cancer to spread. If the mole is found to be cancerous, the dermatologist will remove the entire mole by cutting it out, as well as a rim of normal skin around it. Then he or she will stitch the wound closed.
While most moles appear during the first 20 years of a person's life, some may not develop until later in life. It is normal to have between 10 to 40 moles by adulthood. They may become slightly raised and, during pregnancy and exposure to the sun, may become darker and, therefore, more pronounced. Often, hairs develop on the mole.
As with other skin lesions, moles can be considered unsighlty. Some people prefer to have moles removed for cosmetic reasons; others are irritated by them rubbing against their clothing. One way to remove moles is through surgery. A non-invasive treatment has become popular and widely accepted as an alternative course of action. This holistic approach to mole removal has also been shown to be effective with warts and skin tags.
Bleka Tänderna
