Moles

A mole is medically known as nevi, which basically a collection of pigment cells called melanocytes. It is a harmless skin blemish that appears during the early stages of life and stops to develop around your 20’s. Moles are usually seen on your face, chests, arms, shoulders, back, and legs. Common skin mole color is black but it could also appear in brown, purple, and blue at different shapes and sizes. Skin moles could be round, oval, star-shaped, squarish, and even grow some hair. It could also be raised aside from flat and wrinkled aside from smooth. Some moles are also not permanent and may disappear as you age.

There is no scientific explanation yet as to what causes moles. Skin experts could only say for now that genes and hormonal change affect the size and color of a mole, which could become darker or even bigger. Sun exposure is also being suspected to darken mole color that’s why people with too many skin moles are advised to apply sunscreen when going out even on cloudy days.

Watch Out!

Cancerous moles are to watch out for if you have so many moles on your body. Be aware if you have moles larger than eight inches in diameter, which could indicate a case of skin cancer called melanoma. Moles are considered normal if it only has a size of a pencil eraser or smaller. If a mole becomes excessively itchy, painful and, worst, bleeding immediately see a dermatologist.

It would also be helpful to find out the type of mole you have to detect cancerous moles. There are just two kinds of moles namely the congenital nevi and the dysplastic nevi. The congenital nevi moles come at birth, which could likely lead to a skin cancer especially if it grows more than eight inches in diameter. Dysplastic nevi moles, on the other hand, are those bigger than normal and have uneven color and size. You should be more wary to its appearance and change because it is more prone to turn into a melanoma.

Indicators

Skin experts have also developed an easy guide to help you indicate suspicious moles. It’s as simple as A, B. C, D, and E. A stands for asymmetry, which means a mole could be cancerous if its half does not match with the other half in size. B is for border, where edges of a mole are jagged. C is color. When the color of a mole is not the same with the others like having shades of tan, brown, red and black. D, of course, is for diameter, which was mentioned earlier. Normal moles should not go higher than the diameter of a regular pencil eraser and finally E is for elevation, which means immediately consult your doctor or dermatologist if a mole is abnormally or excessively more puffed up looking.

Moreover, if you’re thinking to get rid of moles resort to methods best recommended by dermatologists or doctors that safe and effective. These mole removal methods, however, are often expensive and painful. Some of these methods include electric cauterization, cryotherapy, scalping, and laser procedure. Which of these should be applied would depend on the type of mole you want to remove. Most importantly, whether you aim to improve your appearance or get rid of dangerous malignant moles, always have it removed by a medical professional.

If the budget is tight, one can also opt to use natural mole removal methods, which are not only more affordable but pain-free as well.

Most moles on your skin are benign, which do not pose a threat for cancer. For your own safety, however, it is always important to be seriously wary on its appearance and to take a closer look.