Moles

What causes moles?
Moles are harmless skin growths that may be flat or protruding. They vary in color from pink flesh tones to dark brown or black. Everyone has moles; some of us have a lot, others have only a few. The number depends on our genes. Moles sometimes appear in "crops," especially during the early teens.

Moles begin to grow in infancy. New ones can develop at any age. Once a mole appears, it usually stays for life without becoming a medical problem. A growing or changing mole in a youngster is almost always harmless. On the other hand, if an adult's mole markedly changes in color or size, or bleeds, it should be checked by a physician.

Sometimes the skin around a mole loses its color so the mole appears to be surrounded by a white ring. This is called a "halo nevus" and is harmless. We leave it alone. With time, the white ring often disappears.

Malignant melanoma, a rare cancerous growth that may resemble a mole, is dangerous and should be removed surgically. It seldom appears before the age of 20 years.

Dr. Ellerin strongly suggests that yearly total skin exams be performed after age 20 and any mole that changes be checked within 1 month.