Mole is a colored growth on the skin. It consists of cells that contain melanin, a dark pigment. Moles may be present at birth and are often called birthmarks. But most first appear during childhood or adolescence.
Moles may occur on any part of the body. They vary in size and may be flat or raised. They range from light brown to bluish-black. Most moles are small and do not change in appearance. Some have long, dark hairs.
Moles are extremely common–on the average, adults have about 40. The tendency to have many moles runs in families. Most moles are hardly noticed, but conspicuous moles may be considered unattractive by some people. Such moles can be removed by surgery.
The great majority of moles are harmless. In rare cases, however, a mole can develop into a cancerous tumor called a melanoma. A melanoma may start as a mole that changes color, itches, becomes sore, enlarges, grows crusty, or bleeds. Melanomas may destroy surrounding healthy tissue and may spread cancer to other parts of the body. Most of these tumors are curable if they are diagnosed and treated early. Therefore, any change in a mole should be reported to a physician immediately.
