Also called: Also called: Nevus
Moles are growths on the skin. They happen when cells in the skin, called melanocytes, grow in a cluster with tissue surrounding them. Moles are very common. Most people have between 10 and 40 moles. A person may develop new moles from time to time, usually until about age 40.
Moles are usually pink, tan or brown. They can be flat or raised. They are usually round or oval and no larger than a pencil eraser.
About one out of every ten people has at least one unusual (or atypical) mole that looks different from an ordinary mole. The medical term for these unusual moles is dysplastic nevi. They may be more likely than ordinary moles to develop into melanoma, a type of skin cancer. Because of this, you should have a healthcare professional check your moles if they look unusual, grow larger, change in color or outline, or in any other way.
National Cancer Institute
-
What You Need to Know about Moles and Dysplastic Nevi
(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/moles-and-dysplastic-nevi
- Moles(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/common_moles.html
- Moles(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/moles/DS00121/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Carbon Dioxide Laser Resurfacing(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/carbon_dioxide_laser_resurfacing/hic_carbon_dioxide_laser_resurfacing.aspx
- Dermatologic Surgery(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/cosmetic_dermatologic.html
- Laser Surgery Information(American Society for Dermatologic Surgery) - http://www.asds.net/LaserSurgeryInformation.aspx
- Body Mole Map(American Academy of Dermatology) - Links to PDF - http://www.melanomamonday.org/documents/08_96%20Melanoma%20Monday%20Mole%20Map.pdf
- All about a Nevus(Nevus Outreach, Inc.) - http://www.nevus.org/pages.php?page_id=21
- Dysplastic Nevi (Atypical Moles)(Skin Cancer Foundation) - http://www.skincancer.org/content/view/112/83/
- Moles, Freckles, Skin Tags, Benign Lentigines, and Seborrheic Keratoses(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/healthy_living/skin_care/hic_moles_freckles_skin_tags_benign_lentigines_and_seborrheic_keratoses.aspx
-
Birthmarks(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body/birthmarks.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/general/birthmarks_esp.html
-
Sturge-Weber Syndrome(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/sturge_weber/sturge_weber.htm
- Atypical Mole (Atypical Nevus)(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/atypicalNevus.htm
- Cherry Hemangioma(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/cherryHemangioma.htm
- Mole (Nevus)(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/nevus.htm
-
If I Had - A Changing Mole(Insidermedicine) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.insidermedicine.com/Archives/If_I_Had_-_A_Changing_Mole_-_Dr_Nanette_Liegeois_MD_PhD_1889.aspx?p=mdlnp
-
If I Had - A Mole in My Eye(Insidermedicine) - Requires Flash Player - http://insidermedicine.com/archives/If_I_Had_-_A_Mole_In_My_Eye_-_Dr_Carol_Shields_MD_Wills_Eye_Hospital_and_Thomas_Jefferson_University_School_of_Medicine_2903.aspx?p=mdlnp
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Hemangioma(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Hemangioma%22
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Nevus(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Nevus%22
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Information from your family doctor. Atypical moles: what you should... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18819241&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Atypical moles. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18819240&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Melanoma, nevogenesis, and stem cell biology. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18787546&tool=MedlinePlus
- Moles -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=nevus[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Find a Dermatologist(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.aad.org/findaderm/
- American Academy of Dermatology - http://www.aad.org/
-
National Cancer Institute - http://www.cancer.gov/
-
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/
- Birthmark (Congenital Melanocytic Nevus)(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/infant/congenitalMelanocyticNevus.htm
-
What's a Birthmark?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/talk/qa/birthmark.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/kid/en_espanol/preguntas/birthmark_esp.html
- Skin Pigmentation Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/skinpigmentationdisorders.html
- Skin, Hair and Nails - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/skinhairandnails.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Moles is the National Cancer Institute - http://www.nci.nih.gov/