Atypical Moles - Definition, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Definition

In medical the mole is termed as NEVUS. Mole means a “spot” in Latin. Moles are present at birth on body of human. Moles can be good or bad, sometimes even experts have difficulty agreeing about which moles are good and bad. However, knowledge of moles is important because, among other reasons at least one out of every three melanoma skin cancers arises in a mole. Most moles that are acquired during life are usually less than 1/4 inch in size. Most of these are formed during childhood and early adult. These are thought to be due to sun damage. Most people think of a mole as being a dark brown spot, but moles appears in a much wider range. Usually these are less than ¼ inch in size.

Although moles are not thought to be harmful to body but doctors are debating on the risk of developing melanoma in people with atypical moles. It is now known that about half of the people with melanoma have numerous atypical moles on their bodies. The risk is greatest in people who also have extremely fair skin and heavy freckling, a sign of excessive sun exposure.

Atypical Moles Causes

1. Some people in us have more moles than others. The risk of melanoma is more with people having more moles. But it is not also right always. It does not mean that they definitely get a melanoma. But an eye should be kept on all your moles. Take care while exposing yourself in sunlight.
2. The risk of developing melanoma is more in the fair skinned persons especially with fair or red hair.
3. Moles develop from an excess accumulation of melanocytes. In rare cases, a mole, especially one that is large and varied, may turn into an atypical mole.

Atypical Moles Symptoms

1. The size of the mole increases suddenly. The size reached ¼ inch and more. Sometimes it can be of size of an eraser at the end of a pencil. One more thing is that most of atypical moles develop from less than ¼ inch moles.
2. The moles may be itching or painful when it is becoming an atypical mole.
3. The skin color around the mole becomes abnormal. It becomes different from the skin color.
4. Bleeding is a bad sign from a mole. You should immediately contact your doctor when bleeding is there.

Atypical Moles Treatment

1. Atypical moles can be removed by surgery with local anesthesia. But surgery is only necessary to those moles which are cancerous or suspected of being cancerous. The mole is examined under a microscope. If cancer cells are found inside the mole then an additional surgery is needed to remove any remaining portion of the mole and surrounding tissue.
2. If the mole is not threat by cancer and is painful or bleeding happening then the mole should be removed. If it is cut off then a scar will remain forever. So, a surgery is preferred over cutting off the mole.