What are 4 types of moles?

There are 4 common types of moles: congenital moles, dysplastic nevi, acquired nevi, and spitz nevi. Below are the differences between each.

What do facial moles look like?

A common mole (nevus) is a small growth on the skin that is usually pink, tan, or brown and has a distinct edge.

Photos of Moles.
Common MolesDysplastic Nevi
Common moles that are smooth spots on the skinDysplastic nevi with scaly or pebbly surfaces
•
13 Oct 2011

What causes face moles?

Moles are caused when cells in the skin called melanocytes grow in clusters. Melanocytes are generally distributed throughout the skin. They produce melanin, the natural pigment that gives skin its color.

What does a cancerous mole on face look like?

The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred. The color is not the same all over and may include shades of brown or black, sometimes with patches of pink, red, white, or blue. The spot is larger than ¼ inch across – about the size of a pencil eraser – although melanomas can sometimes be smaller than this.

When should a mole be checked?

It’s important to get a new or existing mole checked out if it:
  • changes shape or looks uneven.
  • changes colour, gets darker or has more than 2 colours.
  • starts itching, crusting, flaking or bleeding.
  • gets larger or more raised from the skin.

What do moles on your face mean?

A mole on the cheeks near the upper lip suggests the person is sentimental and always considerate of others. A mole on the round part of the cheek suggests a self-absorbed and self-centered person. On the left cheek, a mole indicates a person who is wasteful. On the right cheek, a mole denotes an increase in wealth.

What does Stage 1 melanoma look like?

Stage I melanoma is no more than 1.0 millimeter thick (about the size of a sharpened pencil point), with or without an ulceration (broken skin). There is no evidence that Stage I melanoma has spread to the lymph tissues, lymph nodes, or body organs.

Is melanoma raised or flat?

Melanomas can start flat but become raised as they grow. 3 If you can feel it, it’s likely abnormal. Sometimes in melanoma assessment, the “E” in ABCDE stands for “evolving.” That’s because melanomas change in size, shape, and color over time.

How do I know if a mole is cancerous?

Border – melanomas usually have a notched or ragged border. Colours – melanomas will usually be a mix of 2 or more colours. Diameter – most melanomas are usually larger than 6mm in diameter. Enlargement or elevation – a mole that changes size over time is more likely to be a melanoma.

How do I remove a mole on my face?

Excision is a very common technique for mole removal. After cleaning and numbing the area, your surgeon uses a scalpel to separate your mole from the rest of your skin. Depending on the type of mole, they’ll take a margin of healthy skin to ensure that all of the atypical cells are removed.

What does Stage 1 melanoma look like?

Stage I melanoma is no more than 1.0 millimeter thick (about the size of a sharpened pencil point), with or without an ulceration (broken skin). There is no evidence that Stage I melanoma has spread to the lymph tissues, lymph nodes, or body organs.

Do moles appear suddenly?

Moles, or nevi, typically form during childhood and adolescence, but new moles can appear in adulthood. Although most moles are noncancerous, or benign, the development of a new mole or sudden changes to existing moles in an adult can be a sign of melanoma. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer.

What do skin cancers look like on your face?

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

This nonmelanoma skin cancer may appear as a firm red nodule, a scaly growth that bleeds or develops a crust, or a sore that doesn’t heal. It most often occurs on the nose, forehead, ears, lower lip, hands, and other sun-exposed areas of the body.

How can a doctor tell if a mole is cancerous?

A skin specialist (dermatologist) or plastic surgeon will examine the mole and the rest of your skin. They may remove the mole and send it for testing (biopsy) to check whether it’s cancerous. A biopsy is usually done using local anaesthetic to numb the area around the mole, so you will not feel any pain.