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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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![Picture of ordinary moles illustrating even tan or brown color](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20090115084635im_/http://www.cancer.gov/images/Documents/4e56fa9d-6b8c-49fd-9600-3a3e1f19ca8c/mole1.gif)
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![Picture of dysplastic nevi illustrating mixture of tan, brown, and red/pink color](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20090115084635im_/http://www.cancer.gov/images/Documents/4e56fa9d-6b8c-49fd-9600-3a3e1f19ca8c/nevi1.gif)
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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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![Picture of an ordinary mole illustrating round or oval shape](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20090115084635im_/http://www.cancer.gov/images/Documents/4e56fa9d-6b8c-49fd-9600-3a3e1f19ca8c/mole2.gif)
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![Picture of a dysplastic nevus illustrating irregular shape](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20090115084635im_/http://www.cancer.gov/images/Documents/4e56fa9d-6b8c-49fd-9600-3a3e1f19ca8c/nevi2.gif)
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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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![Picture of ordinary moles illustrating smooth texture](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20090115084635im_/http://www.cancer.gov/images/Documents/4e56fa9d-6b8c-49fd-9600-3a3e1f19ca8c/mole3.gif)
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![Picture of a dysplastic nevus illustrating rough texture](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20090115084635im_/http://www.cancer.gov/images/Documents/4e56fa9d-6b8c-49fd-9600-3a3e1f19ca8c/nevi3.gif)
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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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![Picture of an ordinary mole illustrating size less than 5 millimeters](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20090115084635im_/http://www.cancer.gov/images/Documents/4e56fa9d-6b8c-49fd-9600-3a3e1f19ca8c/mole4.gif)
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![Picture of a dysplastic nevus illustrating larger size](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20090115084635im_/http://www.cancer.gov/images/Documents/4e56fa9d-6b8c-49fd-9600-3a3e1f19ca8c/nevi4.gif)
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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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![Picture of a male torso showing ordinary moles](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20090115084635im_/http://www.cancer.gov/images/Documents/4e56fa9d-6b8c-49fd-9600-3a3e1f19ca8c/mole5.gif)
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![Picture of a man's back illustrating large numbers of dysplastic nevi](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20090115084635im_/http://www.cancer.gov/images/Documents/4e56fa9d-6b8c-49fd-9600-3a3e1f19ca8c/nevi5.gif)
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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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![Picture of a man's back illustrating ordinary moles above the waist](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20090115084635im_/http://www.cancer.gov/images/Documents/4e56fa9d-6b8c-49fd-9600-3a3e1f19ca8c/mole6.gif)
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![Picture of a dysplastic nevus on the scalp](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20090115084635im_/http://www.cancer.gov/images/Documents/4e56fa9d-6b8c-49fd-9600-3a3e1f19ca8c/nevi6.gif)
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