Where Do Moles Come From?

There are many discolorations that you may have or may develop on your skin, such as moles. Sometimes, freckles and moles can be avoided. Other times, you are born with them and they are things you wish you could eliminate. In most cases, they can be treated by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon.

Human skin contains cells called melanocytes that give the skin its characteristic color. They are responsible for the pigment in your skin and can appear as dark brown, bluish, red, tan or white. Some people have few of these cells and their skin is very fair. Those that have a moderate amount of these cells usually have darker skin, such as Indians, Native Americans, Asians and African Americans.

A mole or freckle is a section of skin that has a large number of melanocytes which have collected, causing a spot on the outer skin.

Moles are typically dark brown. Sometimes you are born with moles and sometimes they develop later. Often, a few melanocytes can exhibit abnormal growth and generate a mole on the skin. This abnormal growth may be caused by overexposure to UV radiation or sun exposure, which increase the risk of acquiring a mole. Not every mole is due to these causes though. 

Why Moles Appear

Many moles have no known cause for appearing. Some form in the womb or within the first month of life and are small defects in the skin of a newborn. Heredity does seem to play a role in the occurrence of moles. If your family is prone to having moles, there is a good chance that you will also have or develop some.

Most people have between five and twenty moles on their body, but those with a strong family history of moles may have over a hundred spread around their body. If you have a normal mole appear in places that cause you either discomfort in your appearance or embarrassment, you can have them removed by a dermatologist.

The development of moles on your skin is generally more likely to occur before the age of twenty.  Some people may still develop them into their 30's and 40’s but most people should be done developing moles by that point. It may be wise to have a mole checked by a dermatologist if it appears after the age of twenty, just to be on the safe side. Some moles that appear after that age could be a sign of skin cancer. The good news is that moles will begin to fade as you grow older.

Suspicious Moles

Overexposure to the sun or to high levels of UV radiation can damage your skin cells and can also cause moles. Moles that grow or change shape from their normal round shape could be an indication of a problem. Skin cancer often begins with a mole that is changing shape or growing.

Any change in your moles is a cause for concern and the advice of a dermatologist is advised. If there is a change in one of your moles and it is malignant, early detection will drastically reduce the risk of serious illness. Often, simply having the mole removed surgically by a dermatologist is the only treatment required for early stages of skin cancer.

Signs of suspicious symptoms that should be checked out by a dermatologist include moles that are:

• asymmetrical shaped
• bleeding
• itchy
• larger than a pencil eraser
• raised or elevated above the skin
• change shape over time
• become scaly
• uneven coloration
• blurred edges
• become painful

All of these symptoms may indicate a change in the character of the mole and could indicate the development of melanoma. If you can diagnose skin cancer at an early stage it will minimize the treatment required and greatly enhance the success rate of recovery.