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Moles
Back to Top Q. I am 24 yrs. old. During my teen years I had numerous moles which have since disappeared but I am left with many white spots that are very unattractive and I want to know what I can permanently do to correct this. Please help. A. Disappearing nevi are called halo nevi. Many times moles will “disappear” without cause. The white or hypopigmented areas many times will repigment with time. Outside of cosmetic make-up, there really aren’t medical treatments to repigment the skin. Make sure you use sun protection as these areas are more susceptible to sunburn. I might add that you should see a dermatologist to ensure that none of your moles are worrisome. Back to Top Q. I am 21 and about 6-12 months ago a small mole appeared on the underside of my upper arm. It looked normal with a light pink color and was very small, but long. A few days ago it turned completly black and seems to have shrunk. It is a very tiny tiny mole. Should I make an appointment with a dermatologist? A. Anything that turns "black" should be checked by a physician! Don't take chances with your health. Back to Top Q. My husband (36) just had a mole removed from his back. The lab report came back as severely precancerous. He now has to go have more tissue from around the mole removed and tested. Does this mean he has skin cancer? What are they looking for? Thanks for any info. A. The term "precancerous" is a very nebulous designation. This term is not common terminology describing moles. Calling a mole precancerous does not designate a specific diagnosis. The accepted terminology used in describing irregular moles is called "dysplastic." This term is then modified by adjectives such as mild, moderate or severe. I think that skin biopsies should be interpreted by skin specialists. This avoids confusion and unnecessary anxiety. Back to Top Q. My 23 year old son recently had 2 moles removed, one from his back & one from his chest. Several years ago he also had a large mole removed from his shin. All of these were biopsied & he was told they were precancerous. What does this mean? A. The term "precancerous" is many times misused and overstated. Moles have many names when looked at under the microscope. The most common term designating an irregular appearance is called dysplasia. This term also is further defined as mild, moderate or severe. It is important that your biopsy was reviewed by a board certified dermatologist or dermatopathologist. The designation of "precancerous" in many cases is a misnomer. It is worth re-checking your pathology report for piece of mind! Back to Top Q. I had a small black mole on my shoulder and scratched it thinking it was a pimple. It started to bleed and wouldn’t stop. A few months later there was this red ball about half the size of a pea grew from this same place. A. A good rule of thumb is if you're thinking about skin cancer, get it checked. I have respect for moles and we check everything that is questionable. Back to Top Q. I have had for a long time a type of mole which grows hair profusely. Would it be sensible and possible to have it removed as it is unsightly? A. A mole is not dangerous because it is raised or grows hair. Unless a mole is suspicious, very obvious or bothersome, I recommend watching them. Mole removal ALWAYS leaves a scar. The question is: will the scar be better looking than the mole? I refer patients for laser hair removal or electrolysis to get rid of unwanted hairs. Discuss your options with your physician before any procedure. Read about dangerous signs of Moles in YourSkinDoctor.com. Back to Top Q. I have several moles on my face. I do not want to remove them for fear of scars. I know you can lighten sun spots with treatment. Can you lighten moles? If not, Why? A. Moles are a grouping of a specialized cells in the skin called melanocytes. These cells are too concentrated and deep in the skin to be effectively lightened by topical creams. Sun spots or freckles are melanocytes that are more spread out and closer to the top of the skin. That is why topical bleaching creams can lighten these areas. As these cells are closer to the top of the skin, they are easily stimulated by the sun. Darkening can occur with minimal sun exposure. Remember your sunscreen (SPF 15 or greater) twice a day. Back to Top Q. I have moles and even freckles that are deep red. Some are raised above the skin like moles and some you can only see like freckles. They are mainly on my neck and chest. It seems that more keep appearing every couple of months. Do you happen to know what causes these and is there anything I can do to make them go away? A. Red to purple "moles" are very common. This actually is called a cherry hemangioma and is a blood vessel that is slightly protruding from the skin. Be careful not to confuse a changing mole with a cherry hemangioma. Review the ABC's of melanoma (See YourSkinDoctor.com write-up on Moles). Unfortunately, there are no pills or creams that will remove these or stop them from coming. If they bother you, your physician my use a laser or electric needle to remove them. Back to Top Q. Is it possible to grow a new mole on your face?? Or is it blackhead?? When I told my mum this, she told me that if you pop it, it won't leave a scar on your face. A. It is less common for adults after the age of 40 to grow new moles. Until then, moles can grow anywhere on the skin. Moles are growths in the skin that should not be picked or "popped." They can be removed by a physician but it will leave some type of scar. Make sure that the mole is benign. If there is any doubt, see your dermatologist and question if this medically this needs to be removed. Read YourSkinDoctor.com write-up on Moles for more insight. Back to Top
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