Kinds of moles: what should you know?

A common acquired mole often appears during childhood or adulthood as a small, evenly coloured spot. Congenital moles are present at birth and may be flat, raised, hairy, or larger than other moles. Some moles are junctional, sitting mainly in the upper skin, while others are compound or intradermal and have a more raised surface. A halo mole has a lighter ring around it.

Colour and shape alone cannot establish whether a mole is harmless. Watch for asymmetry, an irregular edge, several colours, noticeable enlargement, bleeding, crusting, or a change in itch or tenderness. A new mark that looks different from the others also deserves attention. These changes do not prove cancer, but they are reasons for a clinician to examine the area.

Check your skin in good light, including the scalp, back, soles, and spaces between toes. Use photographs beside a ruler only as a comparison aid, and avoid picking at a raised mole. A clinician may inspect it with magnification and recommend a biopsy if its pattern is concerning. If a mole catches on clothing or causes repeated irritation, discuss Mole Removal; Surgical Excision may be used when complete removal and tissue examination are appropriate.

Book a dermatology appointment for a mole that changes, develops a new uneven colour, repeatedly bleeds, forms a persistent crust, or becomes distinctly different from your other marks. Seek more urgent advice if bleeding will not stop with gentle pressure or if a rapidly changing lesion is accompanied by an open sore. Do not delay review because the mole is painless.

Ask whether the mole has a reassuring pattern, whether it should be photographed or biopsied, what removal method suits its location, and how a specimen will be examined. If removal is for comfort or appearance, ask about wound care, scarring, and what change should prompt a follow-up visit.