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Ordinary Moles
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Dysplastic Nevi
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Color
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Evenly tan or brown; all typical moles on one person tend to look similar.
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Mixture of tan, brown, and red/pink. A person's moles often look quite different from
one another.
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Shape
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Round or oval, with a distinct edge that separates the mole from the rest of the skin.
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Have irregular, sometimes notched edges. May fade into the skin around it. The flat portion
of the mole may be level with the skin.
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Surface
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Begin as flat, smooth spots on skin (1a); may become raised (1b) and form a smooth
bump (1c).
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May have a smooth, slightly scaly, or rough, irregular, "pebbly" appearance.
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Size
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Usually less than 5 millimeters (about 1/4 inch) across (size of a pencil eraser).
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Often larger than 5 millimeters (about 1/4 inch) across and sometimes larger
than 10 millimeters (about 1/2 inch).
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Number
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Between 10 and 40 typical moles may be present on an adult's body.
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May be present in large numbers (more than 100 on the same person). However, some
people have only a few dysplastic nevi.
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Location
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Usually found above the waist on sun-exposed surfaces of the body. Scalp, breasts,
and buttocks rarely have normal moles.
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May occur anywhere on the body but most frequently on the back and areas exposed to
the sun. May also appear below the waist and on the scalp, breasts, and buttocks.
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