What is a mole? A common mole is a cluster of pigment cells (melanocytes) that form clusters. Most adults have up to 40 moles on the surface of the body. They usually develop on skin that is exposed to ultraviolet radiation.
How and when do moles appear?
All moles or pigmented nevi are divided into two main types – congenital and acquired.
Congenital moles are present from birth or appear during the first months of life.
Acquired moles can appear at any time during life. Congenital moles can be quite large, in some cases they can reach 20 cm or more. Such moles symmetrically increase in size with the growth of the child. Acquired moles, on the contrary, are small, in most cases their size does not exceed 6 mm.
If an acquired mole begins to grow sharply, this is a reason to immediately consult a dermatologist and determine the risk of mole degeneration into a malignant tumor.
The number of pigmented neoplasms on human skin increases until the age of 40-45, after which their number decreases. This does not mean that moles do not appear after the age of 40, but the number of disappearing moles exceeds the number of new ones.
Which moles are dangerous?
There are several different types of acquired moles that can differ in their appearance and ability to degenerate.
Common acquired moles
borderline moles are located in the superficial layer of the skin – the epidermis, usually flat
complex moles are located at the border of the epidermis and dermis, often have a protruding central part
intradermal moles are located inside the dermis – a deeper layer of the skin, dome-shaped protruding formations of light brown color or skin color
Dysplastic moles, atypical moles, Clarke nevi
On average, one out of every 10 people has at least one
atypical mole. These moles are different from others, usually larger than 6 mm, asymmetrical.
Atypical moles also vary in color, from light to dark brown, and a pinkish background can also be observed. They have irregular borders that can smoothly transition into the surrounding skin. When a pathologist examines an atypical mole under a microscope, he sees borderline features between a normal mole and a melanoma. Such moles should be examined in great detail by dermatoscopy and, if there are dangerous signs, removed. In most cases, dysplastic moles do not have the ability to degenerate, but such people have an increased risk of developing skin cancer, which can occur on a “clean” skin area.
Blakitic nevus
A blue nevus is a mole that has a characteristic blue or dark blue color. Pigment cells in such a formation are located in the deepest layers of the skin, due to which such a characteristic shade is formed. If such a mole has a uniform color, is symmetrical and does not change its size, it is not dangerous.
If there are changes, it is necessary to consult a specialist and undergo dermatoscopy – a method of examination that can determine the presence of dangerous signs of degeneration without removing or injuring the mole.
Halonevus or Seton’s nevus
A halonevus or Seton’s nevus is a mole that has a characteristic white corolla around the periphery. This corolla of hypopigmentation (loss of skin color) usually occurs in response to an autoimmune reaction that occurs after trauma to the mole or receiving a certain dose of ultraviolet radiation. Such moles should be examined. In most cases, such a mole gradually disappears over several years. In rare cases, the presence of several such moles can be associated with the development of a dermatological disease – vitiligo, which is associated with the loss of pigment by the skin.
Pivot nevus
Pigmentation that occurs at the site of the removed nevus. The appearance of a recurrent nevus in most cases indicates incomplete removal of the previous mole. Symmetry is not characteristic of this type of mole, it is quite difficult to track in dynamics. For such neoplasms, repeated removal is recommended.
How can you suspect mole degeneration on your own?
If a mole has changed its properties in a short period of time (several months) – color, size, or has become asymmetrical, with uneven edges, you should immediately consult a specialist who can qualitatively determine the type of mole and choose the necessary tactics.
The most common mistake with atypical mole growth is a late visit to a specialist and self-medication. Remember, with timely treatment, skin cancer is completely curable.
How can a mole be examined?
Previously, a mole or any other skin growth could only be examined histologically after surgical removal. Pathologic diagnosis is the gold standard in diagnosis, but before the advent of optical diagnostic methods, a large number of unjustified removals were performed or, conversely, a large number of skin cancers were missed due to fear of surgery.
In recent years, dermatoscopy has been used worldwide to diagnose moles and all other skin tumors, which allows you to make a diagnosis with very high accuracy without trauma and removal of the formation and choose the right method of removal or leave the mole for further observation.
Can a mole develop into a tumor?
A single mole can develop into a malignant tumor, but in most cases, the presence of a large number of pigmented lesions indicates an increased risk of developing skin melanoma. In 60% of cases, melanoma appears on intact skin, so it is necessary to prophylactically examine the entire skin, not just individual pigmented nevi (moles)
Digital dermatoscopy is a modern method of diagnosing moles
Digital dermatoscopy and the creation of a “mole map” allows you to use special equipment to record all pigmented lesions on the skin, measure their area, diameter, pigmentation and further monitor these changes, as well as the appearance of new moles or malignant tumors. Patients from risk groups should undergo such examination once every 6-12 months. Patients who have single moles can examine them separately with a digital dermatoscope and monitor their condition throughout their lives.
The Medical and Diagnostic Center “Modern Dermatology and Surgery” specializes in the comprehensive diagnosis of moles and helps its patients to control the condition of the skin.
