Mole on Skin Causes, New Moles, White, Black, How to Remove Moles on Skin & Dangerous

When one experiences or sees them on a person, the question; “What causes moles on skin?” is likely to arise. Other issues concerning them that may arise include what to make out of new, black or white moles on skin. This post seeks to explore these as well as how to remove and get rid of moles.

Table of Contents

What Are Moles on Skin?

Moles on the skin are a concentration of the pigment cells also known as melanocytes. They can appear as either flat or raised skin lesions and can either be pigmented or skin colored.

What Causes Moles on Skin?

The natural pigment that gives the irises, skin and hair color is known as melanin. This is produced in the skin by cells known as melanocytes. Production of this pigment occurs in the two upper layers of the skin and spreads evenly throughout the skin. The result is an even natural skin color.

Moles on back of neck — Moles can grow anywhere on the skin

In case one gets exposed to the sun too much, the melanocytes get stimulated to produce more melanin. This darkens the skin, a process known as sun tanning. What causes moles on skin, is when these melanocytes fail to distribute evenly and instead grow in clusters, the result is moles. These can appear as stand-alone or they could form in groups. They can be black, brown, pink or even skin colored. A person can have up to 40 moles on the skin.

They mostly grow in areas that get exposed to the sun such as hands, legs, chest and the face but they can grow anywhere on the skin even on areas not directly exposed to the sun. Moles on skin tend to form within the first 20 years of life. Any that grow past this age should be treated with suspicion and watched keenly for signs of melanoma. Other than the sun, some of the moles are said to be genetic especially those that a person is born with.

More often than not, moles require no specialized care as they are harmless. They tend to be affected by hormonal changes and are as such likely to darken when one is in their teen years and in case one is pregnant. However, any of them that undergoes any other type of change or one that appears past the age of 20 years should be looked at by a doctor. This is necessitated by the fact that it could develop into skin cancer.

New Moles on Skin

Some people are born with moles on their skin while others get new ones on skin with time starting from the first year of birth. These continue appearing in the first 20 years of life increasing in number to reach up to 40 by the time one is an adult. With time, they may start disappearing.

A new mole on skin should not always be taken to mean that one has cancer as people keep developing them especially in early life. One should only keep an eye on them and note their appearance when doing skin inspections. Where a new mole appears abnormal, one should consult a doctor immediately.

The importance of watching new moles lies in the fact that the chances of beating cancer are highest when caught in its earliest stage. The risk of developing cancer also increases when one has a lot of moles on their skin. One should therefore check the appearance of any new ones once every month to ensure that any that looks abnormal gets examined.

As one watches over new moles, it is also important to keep checking the old ones as well. In case changes such as itching, bleeding and increase in size are observed, one should have a dermatologist look at them. This though does not mean that abnormal looking old and new moles are a sign of cancer. The only way to tell is by seeing a doctor who will then examine them and know if they should be removed or if they only require to be observed.

White Moles on Skin

White moles occur when the body selects some moles for destruction. This is assumed to happen when the body perceives the mole as a foreign being. Formation of white moles is therefore an auto immune response.

White moles on skin normally form around previously existing ones. The one found at the center is mostly a benign one. At times, white moles are triggered by sunburns. This can be attributed to the fact that when the sun burns a mole, it gets damaged. This makes the body to recognize it as a foreign body.

As a result, some antibodies attack the pigment cells surrounding the mole. This leads to formation of a white mole surrounding an already existing one. With time the old mole starts fading away before it completely disappears. This whole process at times affects normal skin that is around the mole. White moles on skin are most common on the trunk and less common on the limbs and head. They can develop around one or in a number of them.

Black Moles on Skin

Black moles are quite common on the skin. A single black mole on the face is interpreted as a beauty spot. Many moles on the face are common in people who are dark skinned. They normally are harmless unless they start developing atypical features.

A mole that was of a different color but suddenly becomes black should be shown to a dermatologist as soon as is possible since there is a possibility of it developing into black mole cancer. Other characteristics that may accompany such a mole include rapid growth, a change in shape and having irregular borders.

Dangerous Moles on Skin

Skin lesions are at times a health concern to individuals who have them. Dangerous moles on skin can develop with time. These normally indicate the possibility of melanoma which is a type of skin cancer. To help in catching it early, one should keep inspecting their skin and reporting any dangerous mole on skin to their dermatologist.

How to Remove Skin Moles – How to Get Rid of Moles on Skin

There are a number of ways on how to remove skin moles. The fastest method of mole removal involves surgical procedures. This is done by a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon. The method of removal is likely to be determined by the reason for removal as well as the size of the mole. Where large and deep excisions are done, stitches are used to stop bleeding. In case a shallow shave is done, cauterization is used to stop bleeding.

Mole removal creams are another way on how to get rid of moles. These can be purchased over the counter in drugstores. Instructions should be followed to ensure that one does not get inflamed when using them.

The last and cheapest method for getting rid of them is by use of natural remedies. Some of these include garlic paste, pineapple juice, apple cider vinegar, banana peels and iodine. These should be applied on the mole until it falls off. Bandaging will need to be done after application so as to hold in the remedy.

Moles on Skin – Causes, Black, White & Dangerous Skin Moles