Moles
Moles begin to grow in infancy. New ones can develop at any age. Once a mole appears, it usually stays for a very long time 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 can signify a problem and should be evaluated.
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”. With time, the mole generally disappears and after a longer period of time the white ring will disappear as well.
Malignant melanoma is a relatively rare cancerous growth of melanocytes. It may just appear on normal skin or form from a preexisting mole. It is very dangerous and should be removed surgically as soon as possible. It seldom appears before the age of 20 years.
Treating Moles
Most moles are harmless and safe to clinically follow. Moles may be treated under the following conditions:
- A mole that has bled, has an unusual shape, is growing rapidly, or changing color noticeably is giving warning signs of possible malignancy.
- A mole that is irritated by your clothing, comb, or razor can be removed to prevent ongoing irritation.
- A mole that is unsightly can be removed for "cosmetic reasons."
Treating a protruding mole is frequently a simple procedure. After numbing the skin, the doctor removes the projecting part of the mole with a scissors or a scalpel. The doctor may, as a matter of course, send the removed portion to a laboratory for microscopic examination. The wound heals to leave a flat mole, but the color generally remains the same. As a rule, dark moles leave dark spots.
Complete destruction of a mole requires removing the full thickness of skin. The resulting scar is almost always longer than the mole was wide and may be more noticeable than the mole was. For that reason, complete removal of moles for cosmetic reasons depends on the location of the mole and the likely end result of excision. Sometimes it is worth doing and other times you are better off leaving it alone.
Moles sometimes grow coarse hair which may be safely removed by shaving or plucking. Permanent removal of the hair, which has roots deep within the skin, requires electrolysis or complete surgical excision of the mole.