Moles are common skin growths varying in appearance. While often dark, they can present diversely. Understanding these growths is important for skin health.
What Exactly is a Mole?
Moles, medically known as nevi, are common skin growths formed by clusters of melanin-producing cells called melanocytes. Most individuals develop 10 to 40 moles, primarily during childhood and adolescence. These growths can appear anywhere on the body, even in sun-protected areas.
Moles typically appear as small, round or oval. They can be flat or slightly raised, often brown, tan, or black. While their appearance may change over time, becoming more raised or lighter with age, most moles are benign.
Understanding Flesh-Colored Moles
Moles can be flesh-colored, appearing as bumps that match or are slightly darker than the surrounding skin. This occurs because melanocytes forming the mole may be located deeper within the dermis, rather than in the superficial epidermis. When melanocytes are deeper or produce less melanin, the mole lacks typical brown or black pigmentation.
Common flesh-colored moles include intradermal nevi and some compound nevi. Intradermal nevi are often raised, dome-shaped lesions with melanocytes exclusively in the dermis, frequently found in adults, sometimes with hair. Compound nevi, with melanocytes in both the dermis and dermo-epidermal junction, can also be skin-colored, sometimes with uniform pigmentation. A flesh-colored mole does not indicate abnormality or danger.
When to Seek Medical Advice
While many moles are harmless, monitor them for changes that may require medical evaluation, even flesh-colored ones. Changes in size, shape, or texture are important signs. A mole that becomes bumpy, scaly, or develops a new, unusual texture should be examined.
New symptoms like itching, bleeding, or tenderness within a mole warrant attention. Rapid growth of any lesion, or the appearance of new, unusual lesions in adulthood, are also concerning.
Even without traditional dark pigmentation, a mole that exhibits asymmetry, irregular borders, or a changing appearance should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.
Diagnosis and Monitoring
If a mole appears suspicious, a healthcare professional will begin with a visual skin examination. They may use a dermatoscope, a magnifying tool, for a detailed view of the mole’s structure and patterns beneath the skin. This non-invasive examination helps differentiate between benign and potentially concerning lesions.
Should the dermatoscope examination reveal concerns, a skin biopsy may be performed. This involves removing all or part of the mole for microscopic analysis by a pathologist. Biopsy results determine if the mole is benign, atypical, or cancerous, guiding further treatment like surgical removal if necessary.
Regular self-skin exams and professional skin checks, especially for those with many moles or atypical moles, are important for early detection and monitoring.