Moles - Causes, Types and Treatment

Introduction:

Moles, also known as nevus or nevi in the plural form, are the standard structure seen on the skin. Moles are seen in any area of the body. Moles can be present alone or sometimes in groups. Moles commonly appear at birth as birthmarks. It is found that the development of moles can continue until the age of 40. Sometimes moles tend to fade in older people. Moles are self-diagnosable, and the common moles are usually harmless. But atypical mole can give rise to a chronic condition called melanoma, which requires treatment.

What Are Moles?

Moles or nevus is the average growth present on the skin due to the cluster of pigment cells called melanocytes. Moles can be seen anywhere on the body, including the scalp, breast, above the wrist, armpits, nails, fingers, and toes. The typical mole is a tiny brown, pink or tan hue spot. Moles become darker and grow more prominent in adults due to hormonal changes.

The features of a typical mole with variations in color, shape, and size are listed below.

• Color can be brown, tan, black, red, or pink.

• The texture of the mole can be smooth, flat, wrinkled, or raised.

• The shape of moles can be oval, round, and often dome-shaped.

• A common mole is usually smaller than 5 mm.

• Moles can be seen with or without the attachment of hair.

• The edge of the moles is very distinct.

What Causes the Moles?

Moles are formed due to the cluster of pigment cells. Melanocytes are the pigment cells present in the epidermis of the skin. Melanin is the pigment produced by melanocytes. Melanin gives color to the moles. Melanoma is a neoplastic disorder of the moles. The amount of sun exposure in childhood and the inherited genes are mainly the determinants of mole numbers. Mole is also observed in the sun-protected areas of the body. Moles are observed in all races, including Caucasians, Asians, Indians, Africans, and even animals.

The causes of moles are mentioned below.

• Gene-associated moles.

• Somatic mutation in RAS genes.

• BRAF inhibitor drugs include Vemurafenib and Dabrafenib.

• Immunosuppressive treatments.

What Are the Types of Moles?

A mole is a small brown or tan-colored growth present on the skin. It may be small or big. Moles that are seen at birth are called a congenital nevus. Nevi denote the plural form of nevus. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the typical mole is classified into dysplastic nevus, congenital nevus, spitz nevus, and acquired nevus.

The types of common moles are pointed out below.

• Atypical mole or dysplastic mole.

• Congenital mole.

• Spitz mole.

• Acquired mole.

Atypical Mole:

Atypical moles or dysplastic moles have a higher risk of melanoma. They are larger than the typical mole and acquire an odd shape. The atypical mole or dysplastic nevus is rarely observed. People with FAMMM, familial atypical multiple mole melanoma, mostly present with atypical nevus or dysplastic nevus.

Congenital Mole:

A congenital mole is present at birth, referred to as a birthmark. Congenital moles vary in size from small to giant as the child grows. An increase in the mole size tends to increase the risk of malignancy. The congenital mole has different subtypes.

The types of congenital moles are mentioned below.

• A small congenital nevus is <1.5 cm in diameter.

• A medium congenital nevus is 1.5 cm to 20 cm.

• Giant nevus is greater than 20 cm.

• A hairy congenital nevus is a nevus present with hair growth.

Spitz Nevus:

Spitz nevus mostly resembles melanoma. The spitz nevus color is dome-shaped, and the color of the spitz nevus is pink. Spitz nevus also varies, showing different colors like red, brown, and black. Young people and children are mostly present with spitz nevus, which is occasionally seen in adults. Sometimes, bleeding is present on the spitz nevus.

Acquired Mole:

A mole that appears after birth is called an acquired mole. About 10 to 40 acquired moles are usually seen in an average individual if the number of acquired moles increases the risk of melanoma.

How to Check the Mole for Cancer?

Moles are self-diagnosable. With the help of dermatoscopy and clinical examination, dermatologists differentiate the atypical moles from the typical moles. Treating people experiencing symptoms like bleeding, rash, or itching in the mole is essential. The physical examination of the mole must include the size, color, and other features to rule out any malignancy.

The diagnosing features for the diagnosis of nevus are given below.

• Change in size, shape, and texture of mole.

• Change in the color of the mole.

• Occurrence of new moles in adults after 40 years of age.

• Asymmetry, irregular borders, color change, and diameter of nevus are evaluated to diagnose any malignancy condition of nevus.

What Is the Treatment for Removing Moles?

Moles are usually harmless and require treatment or removal when at risk of skin cancer. Another factor for the removal of nevus is the cosmesis of the patient. When it is felt unattracted by the individual, and it causes discomfort against clothing, it requires treatment. The dermatologists will remove the moles very easily. Complications include skin cancer, scarring, and infection when people try to remove the mole at home.

The treatment methods for the removal of moles are mentioned below.

• Surgical excision is where the dermatologist removes the entire nevus, and suturing is done.

• Surgical shaving to remove the mole.

• Electrosurgical removal of the mole.

• Laser surgery removes the pigment and the hair attached to the nevus.

How to Manage Moles?

Sun exposure and ultraviolet or UV rays will increase the risk of cancer from the moles. People with more moles than usual must be careful with regularly checking moles for any changes. Some preventive measures can be followed to protect the moles from sun exposure or during summer.

The preventive methods for moles from sun damage are mentioned below.

• Avoiding strong exposure to sun rays between 11 am to 2 pm can be avoided.

• Wearing light-weighted clothes, hats, and sunglasses can be helpful.

• Avoid artificial sources of ultraviolet rays or UV rays.

• Applying sunscreen with sun protection factor 30 can be applied to the skin.

Conclusion:

Moles are the normal brown or tan colored spot present anywhere on the skin due to sun exposure. Moles can appear alone or in groups. The accumulation of pigment cells is responsible for the formation of moles. Sometimes moles could be a sign of cancer called melanoma. Risks of moles can be prevented by reducing the amount of sun exposure, ultraviolet rays, UV rays, and other artificial sources. However, moles are usually harmless, and treatment is done to reduce the risk of cancer from the moles.