ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Moles

What is moles?

4 May 2021

They refer to brown or beige bumps, big or small, that develop on the skin in different parts of the body whose growth is due to the abnormal grouping of melanocytes or pigmented cells.

Scientifically, moles are called nevi or nevus and most appear during childhood and adolescence. They are usually painless, but over time they can change in appearance, so it is important to monitor and examine them regularly to detect early melanoma that can cause skin cancer.

Moles can appear anywhere on the body, some disappear on their own, and others continue to develop throughout life.

They react to hormonal changes, so in women, they can grow significantly and darken during pregnancy.

They are distinguished by:

  • Color and texture: beige, brown, red, pink, blue, or black. They can be smooth or rough, flat or raised.
  • Shape: Oval or round.
  • Size: they are usually less than 6 millimeters.

If you notice the following changes in a common mole, you should see a dermatologist as soon as possible to rule out the presence of melanoma.

  • Variation in color and size.
  • Itch.
  • Pain and burning
  • Alterations in its shape or texture.
  • Dry or flaky.
  • They become hard.
  • They bleed or have some secretion.

The appearance of cancerous moles is variable, since some may have the aforementioned characteristics and others only one or two.

Signs and symptoms Moles

Your doctor, in addition to reviewing your medical history, will analyze your skin with a dermatoscope and remove some atypical moles to perform a biopsy to confirm or rule out the presence of melanoma. It may remove all of the skin that looks abnormal or just part of it. The procedure lasts only a few minutes and does not imply any greater risk.

Your doctor will inform you of the measures to follow and the tests that you must undergo regularly to monitor them.

Diagnosis and treatment Moles

Potential risks:

  • Family history of melanoma.
  • Excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun.
  • To be born with moles with a diameter of approximately 5 cm.
  • Sensitive skin that burns easily.
  • Having more than 50 common moles.
  • Taking antibiotics, hormones, or antidepressants, which cause skin sensitivity or lower the immune system.

Recommendations:

  • Check your body carefully and constantly to detect changes that may indicate the presence of melanomas.
  • Do not expose your skin to ultraviolet radiation.
  • Wear sunscreen (face and body) daily and reapply it every two hours. This must be waterproof and have a 30 or higher sun protection factor.
  • Avoid exposure to the sun during the hours of greatest intensity (10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).
  • Wear sunglasses, hats, and protective clothing against solar radiation.

At ABC Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments Moles

Fuentes: 

  • medlineplus.gov
  • mayoclinic.org
  • msdmanuals.com
  • cancer.gov
  • cun.es
  • medigraphic.com
  • García-Hidalgo L, León-Dorantes G, Juárez-Navarrete L, et al. Características generales de sujetos mexicanos que acuden a jornadas de detección de cáncer de piel. Dermatol Rev Mex. 2019;63(5):455-462.
  • Fortoul GTI. Qué se esconde detrás de un lunar. Rev Fac Med UNAM . 2018;61(5):57-58.
  • Puebla-Miranda M, Vásquez-Ramírez M, Gálvez-Juárez YA, et al. Melanoma sincrónico. Dermatol Rev Mex. 2021;65(1):83-87.
  • Juárez-Navarrete L, García-Hidalgo L, Carlos-Ortega B, et al. Relación entre fototipos, conocimientos y prácticas en sujetos mexicanos que acuden a jornadas de detección de cáncer de piel. Dermatol Rev Mex. 2019;63(5):463-468.

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